The Department of Transportation is pressing forward with plans to auction takeoff and landing slots at the three major New York-area airports, despite a GAO opinion that the department did not have the authority to do so. The DOT’s announcement drew immediate condemnation from the Air Transport Association (ATA), which called the idea ill-conceived and said that it will result in a lengthy and costly legal challenge.
“The DOT decision patently defies the recommendation of the Government Accountability Office [GAO], as well as the will of Congress, by attempting to move forward with an illegal auction of airport slots,” said ATA president and CEO James May. “Rather than needlessly forcing a costly and protracted legal challenge over an ideological experiment, DOT should follow the recommendations made by the New York Aviation Rulemaking Committee and implement fair and practical solutions to address delays and add needed new capacity. The Secretary of Transportation’s own group of key stakeholders has proposed a clear set of solutions, while rejecting the idea of auctions. It is past time to act on those recommendations.”
