Carriers told to expect surge in passenger traffic

U.S. airlines, already fighting delays affecting one-fifth of all flights, will confront a 31% surge in passenger traffic within eight years, the government said.

Passenger boardings will grow 3.8% this year to 768.4 million and surpass 1 billion by 2015, the Federal Aviation Administration said at its annual forecast conference in Washington.

By 2020, takeoffs and landings will swell 59% at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport and 54% at Los Angeles International Airport, the FAA said.