New York Sen. Charles Schumer (D) attacked the federal government?s proposal to ease air congestion at New York City-area airports at a hearing Wednesday.

The government is already in the process of changing air routes in the area. It now wants to speed up air travel by auctioning off some routes to specific airlines, something which has never been done.

"Most experts say it will fail,? Schumer says of the plan. ?It will certainly raise costs for the consumer and hurt the smaller cities and hurt the local airlines."

Instead, Schumer says there should be more air traffic controllers and technology improvements.

Dr. John Wensveen, the dean of Dowling College?s School of Aviation, says airport gridlock is the same as gridlock on the LIE. He says the government should ?force the airlines to use the underutilized off peak times, which would spread out the landings and the departures at all of the airports."

Travelers say they?re excited about the prospects of a restructured air space, if it?s more efficient.

According to the FAA, one out of every three delayed flights is directly caused by delays that originate in the New York area.

Click for more on what the government could do to ease air traffic

To watch footage from the FAA congressional hearing and an interview with Sen. Schumer, go to Channel 612 on your iO digital cable box and select iO Extra.