Denounces DOT Push for Congestion Pricing and Slot Auctions
WASHINGTON, June 18 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Air Transport Association
of America (ATA), the industry trade organization for the leading U.S.
airlines, today testified before the House Committee on Transportation and
Infrastructure on the need to increase capacity and reduce congestion in New
York-area airspace. ATA denounced the Department of Transportation (DOT)
congestion pricing and slot auction proposals that would limit capacity, and
urged DOT to stop talking ideology and experiments, and start leaving a legacy
that will help, not hurt, this country.
"Instead of moving forward with capacity enhancements and airspace redesign
using every available resource with all deliberate speed, the DOT is pushing
congestion pricing and slot auctions - completely unproven textbook
experiments that no one in the aviation world has used successfully," said ATA
President and CEO James C. May. "DOT seems intent on leaving a legacy of
failed, but extremely costly, experiments that do nothing to reduce congestion
and flight delays in New York or anywhere else.
ATA and its member airlines are joined by a broad coalition, including the
Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, in opposing these DOT proposals.
Furthermore, as ATA testified, congestion pricing and slot auctions are
unlawful.
May stressed the need for a sense of urgency that the DOT implement and
enforce all 77 capacity enhancements identified last year by the New York
Aviation Rulemaking Committee (ARC). This urgency is heightened not only by
worsening congestion in the New York area, but also by the dire need to remove
any unnecessary costs and regulatory burdens from the airline industry's
plate. These capacity enhancements will make the system more efficient for
everyone in part by reducing fuel burn and related fuel costs for the airlines
which face approximately $10 billion in losses this year.
"DOT should devote all of the resources necessary right now to implement the
New York airspace redesign and related initiatives," May said. "Work with the
Port Authority and others to implement the near-term capacity enhancements
identified last year by the New York ARC; work with the Department of Defense
and Congress, if necessary, to open up new airways on a permanent basis; and
accelerate development and implementation of technologies to bring us to the
NextGen air traffic management system; and deploy Worldwide Scheduling
Guidelines."
ATA airline members and their affiliates transport more than 90 percent of all
U.S. airline passenger and cargo traffic. For additional information about the
industry, visit www.airlines.org.
SOURCE Air Transport Association
Elizabeth Merida, +1-202-626-4205, or Victoria Day, +1-202-626-4141, both of
ATA
