May Expresses Group's 'Frustration'

As expected, the Air Transport Association of America -- industry trade group and lobbying organization for most US airlines -- has issued a statement opposing the Department of Transportation's proposed slot auction program for New York area airports.

"Our members and their passengers are frustrated by the DOT's continued fixation on auctions, despite the overwhelming rejection by passengers, airlines and airports to such an experiment. These ill-conceived and unlawful proposals are driven by ideology and will not reduce congestion or flight delays," said ATA President and CEO James C. May. "Instead of focusing on modernizing and expanding the airspace infrastructure as the traveling and shipping public expects, the government seeks to curb that demand by making it more costly to fly. We must work to expand, not limit, capacity. This experiment will penalize the public."

As ANN reported, DOT Secretary Mary Peters announced three new measures Friday addressing delays at the three major New York-area airports. One of those proposals involves a plan to auction off landing slots at JFK International and Newark International.

The department proposes giving airlines already serving the airports up to 20 slots per day, and auctioning the rest over 10 years. After the decade of protection for existing airline investments ended, presumably DOT would broaden the auction. Peters said the airlines "...would receive a 10-year interest in some of the world’s most valuable aviation assets, free of charge, free of question and free of hassle."

She added other airlines would get a chance to compete in an attractive aviation market... but to do so they would have to make investments that benefit every existing carrier.

FMI: www.airlines.org, www.dot.gov