ATA's May Disputes DOT's "Meat Ax" Approach To Setting Limits

For all the talk of cooperation leading up to this week's meeting between officials with the FAA and DOT, and representatives of several US airlines, one thing is clear: those airline officials did not enter into the meeting with clear hearts and open minds.

"Scheduling a meeting is a perfectly appropriate approach but not when done with a meat ax," James May, CEO of the Air Transport Association, grumbled on his way in for the start of the two-day meeting.

ATA vehemently disagrees with the DOT's plan to set a limit on flight operations at JFK... and may seek legal action if those limits are enacted by the FAA, May (shown at right) told Reuters.

As ANN reported, the DOT wants to limit operations to 80 flights per hour from 0600 to 2159 local time daily -- except for 1500 to 1859, when the target will be 81 flights. To better space flights throughout an entire hour, the Department also set a 30-minute maximum of total flights at 44, and the 15-minute maximum at 24 flights.

In addition, the number of arrivals or departures may not exceed 53 in any one hour period, 29 in any 30-minute period or 16 in any 15-minute period.

ATA also objects to a DOT plan to charge carriers more to use congested airports at the busiest times of day.

"We have concerns about delays in New York like everyone else," May said. "You don't promote cuts in schedule capacity, you promote adjustments and produce realistic benchmarks."

DOT responds the airlines' inability to set realistic benchmarks so far has led to the current problem. While the agency would prefer to not force schedule cuts, agency spokesman Brian Turmail said the option remains if carriers can't agree on limits.

"It's a blunt instrument that limits competition and is known to raise prices," Turmail said, adding DOT would rather see market-based pricing schemes in order to curb traffic at busy airports like JFK.

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