Federal Aviation Administration (
Federal Aviation Administration (
Extension of the current lottery allocations, set to expire on Saturday, September 15, will help the FAA identify and make the transition to a longer term demand management solution at LaGuardia, one of the country`s most-delayed airports.
The FAA proposed extending the lottery in a notice published Tuesday, June 12. The FAA also announced that it will hold a new lottery on Wednesday, August 15 to reallocate a small number of unused slots exemptions. The fact that we are seeing better performance at LaGuardia is encouraging, said Garvey.
However, there are no easy answers and no silver bullet for the complex problem of delays. The administration is committed to working with incumbent airlines and new entrants, and recognizes the need for service to small communities as well as the interests of consumers.
Under the Aviation Investment and Reform Act for the 21st Century (AIR-21), which took effect in April 2000, new-entrant airlines and those serving small communities were granted exemptions to slot limitations at LaGuardia, as well as to New York`s JFK and Chicago`s O`Hare, providing significant levels of new access to the airports. This provision began a phase-out of slot limitations at the three airports, which had been in place since 1969 under the FAA`s High Density Rule.
In December 2000, based on significant increases in air carrier delays as a result of excessive demand at LaGuardia, the FAA limited the number of AIR-21 slot exemptions to 159 per day and reallocated these exemptions via lottery. The total number of scheduled arrivals and departures was limited to 75 per hour, effective Wednesday, Jan. 31 through Sept. 15, 2001. By Spring 2001, delays decreased dramatically.
During the first 90 days of the new operational limits, LaGuardia delays were down from about 8,000 per month to 3,000–more than a 60 percent decrease. LaGuardia now accounts for about one out of 10 air traffic delays for the entire system. Before the lottery, delays at LaGuardia accounted for 25 percent of the nation`s total.
In addition to extending the lottery, the FAA is also looking at more permanent policy options for LaGuardia. Both administrative and market-based approaches are being considered. Market-based options would allocate capacity among air carriers based on an operator`s willingness to pay. Congestion pricing and an auction of landing and takeoff rights are under consideration.
Administrative options include proposals to encourage the use of larger aircraft and a new rule similar to the High Density Rule with a provision for incentives for more service to small communities and new air carrier entry. The FAA published a notice in the Federal Register on June 12 for public comment that describes these policy options in detail.
Theodore is the Co-Founder and Managing Editor of TravelDailyNews Media Network; his responsibilities include business development and planning for TravelDailyNews long-term opportunities.
