ACI-NA OPPOSES AIRLINES FOR AMERICA REQUEST FOR SLOT WAIVER EXTENSION
May 27, 2024
On April 19, 2024, Airports Council International-North America (“ACI-NA”) filed an opposition to extension of the U.S. airport slot waiver. After the COVID-19 pandemic, the FAA has provided waivers to the minimum usage of slots at airports. In 2023, air carriers petitioned the FAA to reinstate the slot waiver due to Air Traffic Control (“ATC”) delays, and the FAA granted a 10% slot waiver through October 26, 2024. On April 3, 2024, Airlines for America requested another extension through summer 2025 of the slot waiver at the John F. Kennedy International Airport, New York LaGuardia Airport, and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. In its comment, the ACI-NA argues that the slot waiver unfairly protects incumbent airlines, regardless of whether they operate flights, at the expense of other airlines and the public at large. The ACI-NA further argued that there is no proven correlation between the slot waiver and alleviating issues caused by ATC delays. The ACI-NA requested that the FAA provide information and data to support its slot waiver approach. The comment also calls for the FAA to convene with air carriers, airports, and representative organizations, as well as to afford the public an opportunity to comment on the requested extension.
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