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A lot has to do with airport capacity. When I worked LAX's busiest arrival hour ever (or ever will), we gridlocked the airport. They were holding airplanes all over the place. There's this myth that there is unused airspace that can be utilized, that isn't. That's like unlimited roads to a stadium, but only 200 parking spots. What happens to the cars that don't make it when the parking lot is full?
Not so much anymore (thanks union & the philosophy that if it ain't easy, it ain't right), but in my era controllers, went out of their way to take the extra airplane or 10. Like in the movie Pushing Tin, there used to be competition between controllers on who could pack them in the tightest. My favorite was when I was told there wasn't a hole for someone. Challenge accepted!
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