Wind offsets departing flight traffic at Phoenix airport

PHOENIX (AP) - Departing flight traffic at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport changed course somewhat earlier this month thanks to windy weather.

The Federal Aviation Administration says residents have noticed more flight departures to the west throughout May.

They say wind, which drives toward which direction aircraft take off, has favored the west.

That is a contrast from the past several months.

According to a city report on airport notice, more traffic has departed to the east.

In January, windy conditions drove more than 80 percent of the traffic to head east.

The westward traffic is also the result of two airport taxiways being closed for safety reasons.

The FAA implemented new flight paths last September as part of an effort to streamline aircraft routing for safety and fuel efficiency.