Say Idea Is Untested, And Possibly Illegal

Well, so much for that idea. A proposal hatched by the Bush administration three months ago to fine airlines for using runways during peak hours -- thus, in theory, more evenly spreading out departures and arrivals at New York-area airports -- appears headed for defeat.

The Wall Street Journal reports a coalition including the Air Transport Association, and the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, opposed the idea, calling the notion illegal and expensive, adding it hasn't been tested on a large scale.

"Congestion pricing is nothing more than an additional and unnecessary tax on passengers that has never been proven to work in aviation," said ATA President James May.

As ANN reported, President Bush convened the Aviation Rulemaking Committee, made up of lawmakers and industry officials, in September... spurred by passenger complaints of record delays following a horrendous summer. Among the ideas bandied were encouraging airlines to use fewer, and larger, aircraft; shifting traffic to underutilized airports; and congestion pricing.

"Applying congestion pricing to the aviation industry has the potential to make today's system more predictable, more reliable and more convenient for the travelers," Bush said last month.

Opponents to that plan responded with a Power Point presentation, playing on such points as "Congestion fees would be an unauthorized tax" and "DOT failed to make the case: Better solutions are available." To drive the point home, the final slide showed a red apple with a bite taken out of it -- a representation of what would happen to the New York economy, the airlines said, should such fees be imposed.

And it seems to have worked... as officials on the committee and with the Department of Transportation are now ready to give up, sources tell the WSJ. "You can't make them do it if they don't want to," said an unnamed DOT official, adding the agency is now focusing on other suggestions to reduce congestion.

A final decision from the committee is expected next week.

FMI: www.panynj.gov/CommutingTravel/airports/html/, www.airlines.org