ANT has a great podcast for the weekending June 20th. Some of the key topics covered include the DOT's proposed auctioning of slots in the New York New Jersey market.
I don't normally agree with anything New York Senator Chuck Schumer (D-NY) says, but I think he has a point in this weeks testimony in Congress. Anybody who has flown into the New York market in the summer time knows its a mess. Also covered is the recently announced global marketing link up between United and Continental Airlines.
Add Freightdawg.com to your social bookmarks!
Heres what AOPA had to say about this. Im a member, mostly am an observer for informational reasons.
By AOPA ePublishing staff
AOPA has asked the FAA to suspend plans to establish a slot auction system for access to La Guardia Airport, arguing that Congress has specifically prohibited the imposition of new fees for services.
In June 16 comments on the FAA’s supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking (SNPRM), AOPA points out that the proposed system would cut general aviation access in half and establish what is essentially a fee for access to the airport. Imposing new fees is strictly prohibited by the current transportation appropriations bill.
In its comments, AOPA notes that the proposal has been opposed by virtually every segment of the aviation industry and argues that the Department of Transportation is acting through the FAA to establish a slot auction system without the authority to do so and in opposition to congressional guidance.
AOPA also notes that the proposal does not provide enough details about how the system would operate for the industry to evaluate it fairly.
Under the proposal, general aviation, which accounts for less than 4 percent of traffic at La Guardia, would be limited to three operations per hour during congested periods—a 50-percent reduction from the current level of six operations per hour.
AOPA is asking the FAA to suspend the slot auction proposal and maintain the current level of general aviation access to the airport. AOPA is also asking the FAA to allow additional public comment once it has re-evaluated and clarified its proposal.
Posted by: Eric | June 21, 2008 at 10:23 PM
The reason that aviation deregulation in 80's didn't bring all that was promised is precisely because they didn't go all the way and make a market for gates slots. The result was the less than optimal hub and spoke networks we have today. Starting the process of freeing up gates is a fantastic initiative. One only needs to note who is against it (legacy carriers and their wholly owned lackeys in Washington) to realize how effective it would be introducing new competitive forces to the market.
Posted by: Rob | June 21, 2008 at 11:31 AM