[Federal Register Volume 61, Number 122 (Monday, June 24, 1996)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 32375-32382]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 96-16045]



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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Office of the Secretary

14 CFR Part 241

[Docket No. OST-95-744; Notice No. 96-18]
RIN Number 2139-AA04


Passenger Origin-Destination Survey Reports

AGENCY: Office of Secretary, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of proposed rulemaking.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Transportation (DOT or the Department) 
proposes that large certificated U.S. air carriers participating in 
code-share arrangements report both the ticketing and operating air 
carriers in their quarterly Passenger Origin-Destination Survey 
reports. DOT needs the information to assess accurately the effects of 
code-sharing alliances in air transportation. Also, the Department 
proposes to expand by one position the field entitled ``Total Dollar 
Value of Ticket'' to accommodate current charges; and to standardize 
the format for floppy disk submissions using the

[[Page 32376]]

same 200 character record layout that is used for magnetic tape 
submissions. This action is taken on the Department's own initiative.

DATES: Comments are due August 23, 1996.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be directed to the Docket Clerk, Docket OST-
95-744, room PL 401, Office of the Secretary, Department of 
Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW., Washington, DC 20590-0001 from 
10 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET, Monday through Friday, except Federal Holidays.
    Comments: Comments should identify the regulatory docket number and 
be submitted in duplicate to the address listed above. Commenters 
wishing the Department to acknowledge receipt of their comments must 
submit with those comments a self-addressed stamped postcard on which 
the following statement is made: Comments on Docket OST-95-744. The 
postcard will be dated/time stamped and returned to the commenter. All 
comments submitted will be available for examination in the Rules 
Docket both before and after the closing date for comments.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Bernie Stankus, Office of Airline 
Information, K-25, Bureau of Transportation Statistics, 400 Seventh 
Street, SW., Washington, DC 20590, (202) 366-4387.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    Code-sharing has become increasingly widespread in both interstate 
and foreign air transportation. Congress has urged the DOT to analyze 
more thoroughly the effects of international code-sharing on air 
transportation and U.S. air carriers. In testimony before the Senate 
Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation in June 1995, the 
Secretary pledged to expand the DOT's monitoring of the effects of 
code-sharing.
    Under the current Passenger Origin-Destination Survey (Survey) 
reporting system, the DOT has difficulty evaluating the effects of 
code-sharing alliances on air carriers and consumers. As currently 
designed, the Survey does not identify both carriers on a code-share 
ticket. According to instructions sent to participating carriers on 
September 11, 1995, the Survey identifies the carrier transporting the 
passenger (operating carrier), but not the ticketing carrier (carrier 
of record on the ticket).
    To assess accurately the effects of international code-share 
agreements, DOT needs to know the ticketed carrier as well as the 
transporting carrier for the various legs of the passenger's flight.
    If both code-sharing partners are identified in the survey, it will 
eliminate the need for special reports, as now obtained from certain 
U.S. carriers, regarding major international code-share alliances.
    In the United States, regional carrier service is growing as major 
carriers are handing over more service to their code-share partners. 
Service to small communities can be affected by code-sharing, creating 
a need for DOT to monitor the impact on the communities from code-share 
services.
    Given the need for international code-share data, the need for 
purely domestic code-share data, and the fact that many international 
passengers interline on domestic code-share flights, the requirement to 
report both the ticketed and operating carriers is proposed for both 
international and domestic tickets. This coverage would benefit 
participating carriers by eliminating the need for maintaining two 
reporting systems, one for international service and one for domestic 
service.
    On October 23, 1995, the DOT issued a notice in the Federal 
Register (60 FR 54407) stating its intention to collect the identities 
of both the ticketed and operating carriers from code-share operations 
(Accounting and Reporting Directive No. 194.) This requirement was to 
become effective on January 1, 1996.
    A 30-day comment period was provided. Some of the commenters 
believed this issue should be addressed by rulemaking. In deference to 
those comments, the DOT issued Accounting and Reporting Directive No. 
198 which rescinded Accounting and Reporting Directive No. 194, and 
stated the Department's intent to proceed with a rulemaking in order to 
allow full and public discussion. Other commenters requested a delay in 
the implementation date, clarification of reporting downline code-
shares in which the lifting carrier (reporting carrier) is not a party 
to the code-share, clarification of reporting code-share information 
from tickets that are lifted by another carrier, and some carriers 
requested that the code-share data relating to foreign carriers be 
withheld from public disclosure.
    We propose to collect survey data that identifies both the 
ticketing and operating air carriers without causing an undue burden on 
reporting air carriers.

General Definitions

    A participating carrier is a large certificated U.S. carrier that 
is required to submit the quarterly Survey.
    The reporting carrier is the first participating carrier that 
operates a segment of a passenger's itinerary. The reporting carrier is 
responsible for submitting the Survey data. DOT proposes that the 
reporting carrier be responsible for identifying the operating and 
ticketing carriers for code-shares in which the reporting carrier is a 
party.
    The ticketed carrier is the carrier whose two character carrier 
code appears on the passenger ticket.
    The Passenger Origin-Destination Survey is a sampling of airline 
passengers' itineraries. Currently, all participating carriers are 
reporting a 10-percent sample by reporting all ticket numbers ending 
with zero. Some carriers using a ticketless reservation system have 
made an alternative arrangement to report a 10-percent sample. 
Implementation Date
    Given the urgent need for accurate, reliable code-share data, the 
DOT plans to make the rule effective on the first day of a calendar 
quarter, at least 60 days after the final rule is published. For 
example, if the final rule were published on July 30, 1996, the rule 
would be effective on October 1, 1996, with the first submission due on 
February 15, 1997. If the final rule were published on August 3, 1996, 
the rule would be effective on January 1, 1997, with the first 
submission due on May 15, 1997. The DOT believes this will allow 
sufficient time for participating air carriers to make necessary 
changes to their information gathering systems.

Downline Code-Share Flights

    The reporting air carrier is responsible for identifying its own 
code-share partners. When there is a downline code-share segment in 
which the reporting carrier is not a party, the reporting carrier is 
not required to expend extra resources to track and properly identify 
both the operating and ticketed carrier for such downline segments. 
When a downline operating carrier is not known by the reporting 
carrier, the reporting carrier would use the ticketed carrier's code to 
identify the unknown operating carrier. DOT would prefer to have both 
carriers properly identified on all code-share segments. However, we 
recognize that, under current conditions, the burden of requiring the 
reporting carrier to capture other parties' code-share data would 
likely outweigh the benefits of the data. Where such data are readily 
available to the reporting carrier, it should report both operating and 
ticketed carriers for downline code-share operations in which they are 
not a party. This procedure would improve the value of the Survey for 
all users.

[[Page 32377]]

Lifting Tickets

    The reporting carrier is responsible for sampling and reporting 
applicable tickets from all passengers carried on flight segments which 
it operates including, but not limited to, code-share and blocked-space 
passengers. In some instances, the reporting (operating) carrier may 
not actually lift the passenger's ticket. Nevertheless, in these cases 
it is the responsibility of the reporting carrier to get the necessary 
information from its code-share affiliated carrier to properly report 
all applicable tickets. Otherwise, passengers will not be properly 
sampled and the Survey results will be distorted.

Nonreported or Dual Reported Tickets

    DOT recognizes that with code-sharing, some tickets that normally 
would be reported are not reported, and other tickets may be reported 
twice.
    For instance, a passenger is ticketed under a U.S. participating 
carrier's code and is carried by a foreign carrier. That passenger then 
interlines with another U.S. participating carrier. The foreign carrier 
does not report the Survey; and the second operating carrier may 
believe that the U.S. carrier, appearing on the ticket, operated the 
first segment and reported the ticket.
    If a U.S. carrier operates a flight segment that is ticketed using 
the code of its foreign air carrier partner, the U.S. carrier would 
report the Survey data. If that passenger then interlines with a second 
U.S. carrier, that second U.S. carrier may believe it is the first U.S. 
operating carrier and also report the Survey data. However, we believe 
these instances will be the exception and will not materially impact 
the results of the Survey.

Reporting Examples

    Below are some examples of code-share itineraries:

A. Single Segment Itineraries

    1. U.S. air carrier (BB) operates under a foreign air carrier's 
code (FO).

O&D reporting--BB
    Operating carrier--BB
    Ticketed carrier--FO

    2. Foreign air carrier (FO) operates under U.S. air carrier code 
(BB).

O&D reporting--none (No U.S. participating carrier operated a flight 
segment)
    Operating carrier--FO
    Ticketed carrier--BB

    3. A nonparticipating U.S. air carrier (NP) operates under a U.S. 
air carrier's (BB) code.

O&D reporting--none (No U.S. participating carrier operated a flight 
segment)
    Operating carrier--NP
    Ticketed carrier--BB

    4. U.S. participating air carrier (AB) operates under U.S. 
participating air carrier's (XY) code.

O&D reporting--AB
    Operating carrier--AB
    Ticketed carrier--XY

B. Multi Segment Itineraries

    1. Foreign air carrier (FO) operates under U.S. air carrier code 
(BB) then the passenger interlines with US carrier (BB).

O&D reporting--BB (was the first participating U.S. carrier to 
operate)
First Segment
    Operating carrier--FO
    Ticketed carrier--BB
Second Segment
    Operating carrier--BB
    Ticketed carrier--BB

    2. U.S. air carrier (BB) operates under a foreign air carrier's 
code (FO) and the passenger interlines with the foreign carrier.

O&D reporting--BB (operated first segment)
First Segment
    Operating carrier--BB
    Ticketed carrier--FO
Second Segment
    Operating carrier--FO
    Ticketed carrier--FO

    3. Nonparticipating U.S. air carrier (NP) operates under 
participating U.S. carrier code (BB) and the passenger interlines with 
BB.

O&D reporting--BB (operated second segment)
First Segment
    Operating carrier--NP
    Ticketed carrier--BB
Second Segment
    Operating carrier--BB
    Ticketed carrier--BB

    4. U.S. participating carrier (BB) operates under U.S. 
participating air carrier (XY) code and the passenger interlines with 
XY.

O&D reporting--BB
First Segment
    Operating carrier--BB
    Ticketed carrier--XY
Second Segment
    Operating Carrier--XY
    Ticketed Carrier--XY

C. Multi Segment Itineraries With Interline Between Code-Share and 
Noncode-Share Carriers

    1. Foreign air carrier (FO) operates under U.S. participating 
carrier's code (BB) and then the passenger interlines with U.S. 
participating carrier XY.

O&D reporting--XY (However, this ticket probably would not be 
reported if XY did not realize it was the first participating 
carrier to operate)
First Segment
    Operating carrier--FO
    Ticketed carrier--BB
Second Segment
    Operating carrier--XY
    Ticketed carrier--XY

    2. Foreign air carrier (FO) operates under a U.S. participating 
carrier's code (BB), the passenger interlines to a BB operated flight 
and then interlines with U.S. participating air carrier XY.

O&D reporting--BB (operated second segment)
First Segment
    Operating carrier--FO
    Ticketed carrier--BB
Second Segment
    Operating carrier--BB
    Ticketed carrier--BB
Third Segment
    Operating carrier--XY
    Ticketed carrier--XY

    3. U.S. air carrier (BB) operates under foreign air carrier's (FO) 
code, the passenger interlines to the foreign air carrier then to 
another U.S. air carrier (XY).

O&D reporting--BB (BB operated the first segment; however, there may 
be duplicate reporting, if XY believed it was the first operating 
U.S. carrier and also reported the data)
First Segment
    Operating carrier--BB
    Ticketed carrier--FO
Second Segment
    Operating carrier--FO
    Ticketed carrier--FO
Third Segment
    Operating carrier--XY
    Ticketed carrier--XY

    4. Nonparticipating U.S. air carrier (NP) operates under a U.S. 
participating air carrier's code (BB) and the passenger interlines with 
BB and then with XY.

O&D reporting--BB (operated second segment)
First Segment
    Operating carrier--NP
    Ticketed carrier--BB
Second Segment
    Operating carrier--BB
    Ticketed carrier--BB
Third Segment
    Operating carrier--XY
    Ticketed carrier--XY

    5. Nonparticipating U.S. air carrier (NP) operates under a U.S. 
participating air carrier's code (BB) and the passenger interlines with 
U.S. participating carrier XY.

O&D reporting--XY (However, this ticket probably would not be 
reported if XY did not realize it was the first participating 
carrier to operate)
First Segment
    Operating carrier--NP
    Ticketed carrier--BB
Second Segment
    Operating carrier--XY
    Ticketed carrier--XY


[[Page 32378]]


    6. U.S. participating carrier (BB) operates the first segment; the 
passenger then interlines on a code-share between AB and XY.

O&D reporting--BB (If BB did not know AB operated second segment it 
would report XY for both operating and ticketed carriers)
First Segment
    Operating carrier--BB
    Ticketed carrier--BB
Second Segment
    Operating Carrier--AB
    Ticketed Carrier--XY

Honored Tickets

    There are instances where a reporting carrier may honor the ticket 
of another carrier (noncode-share partner), and transport the passenger 
without re-issuing the ticket. In these cases, the reporting carrier 
should treat the ticket as if it had actually been re-issued and report 
it accordingly. If the reporting carrier reported the air-carrier code 
on the actual ticket, it would appear that there is a code-share 
arrangement between the ticketed and operating carrier when, in fact, 
there is none.

Confidentiality of Code-Share Data

    United, Delta and Northwest believe code-share data relating to 
their foreign code-share partners should be granted special 
confidential treatment. DOT disagrees. The DOT policy has been to 
consistently treat the equal data exchanges of traffic statistics as 
procompetitive. Carriers enter into code-share arrangements in an 
attempt to gain marketing advantages. DOT believes that these 
arrangements should not be given special disclosure treatment, because 
all participating carriers will be reporting their code-share 
operations in the same manner. Therefore, we are proposing not to alter 
the regulations as they pertain to the release of Survey data.

Total Dollar Value of Ticket

    The Total Dollar Value of Ticket equals the passenger fare plus any 
tax or other charges such as Passenger Facility Charges (PFC). Because 
some fares now exceed $9,999, we propose to expand the ``Total Dollar 
Value of Ticket'' field by one position.

Standardize Formats for Floppy Disk Submissions

    The Department has encouraged carriers that do not have the 
capability to report via magnetic tape or cartridge to submit their 
reports via floppy diskettes. To avoid the multitude of formats 
currently received, we propose to prescribe a 200 position format with 
standard lengths of fields for submission of personal computer (PC) 
generated Survey reports. The field descriptions and field lengths will 
be identical to the fields prescribed for magnetic tape/cartridge 
submissions (see Appendix A Sec. IX. ADP Instructions of 14 CFR 
241.19). However, to simplify the PC submissions, the submitter may 
report the dollar value of the ticket in the field immediately after 
the last reported city code, rather than in positions 196-200. 
Submitters may separate fields by using commas or tabs (comma delimited 
ASCII or tab delimited ASCII format).

Reporting Burden

    We estimate a four-hour increase per response to report both the 
ticketed and operating carrier and a one-time reprogramming burden of 
200 hours per respondent. Some of the code-share operators that have an 
extensive network may very well experience a larger increase in 
reporting burden, while carriers that do not code-share or interline 
will experience less of a reporting burden increase.
    We estimate reprogramming costs of $10,000 per carrier (200 hrs. 
x  $50 = $10,000), and an annual burden increase of $800 (16 hrs.  x  
$50 = $800). Total first year cost for the airline industry would be 
approximately $432,000 (40 carriers  x  $10,800 = $432,000). After the 
first year, the annual cost of the rule is estimated to be $800 per 
carrier and $32,000 for the industry.
    Carriers that commented on the October 23, 1995 Federal Register 
Notice believed that the burden increase would be greater than DOT's 
estimate. However, these carriers were under the assumption that they 
would be required to track the code-share flights of alliances in which 
they were not a participant. Since carriers are not required to track 
these code-share flights, DOT believes their burden estimates were 
overstated. DOT encourages carriers to give us their burden and cost 
estimates for complying to this NPRM.

Rulemaking Analyses and Notices

Executive Order 12866 and DOT Regulatory Policies and Procedures

    This proposed rule is not considered a significant regulatory 
action under section 3(f) of Executive Order 12866 and, therefore, is 
not subject to review by the Office of Management and Budget.
    This rule is not considered significant under the regulatory 
policies and procedures of the Department of Transportation (44 FR 
11034). The purpose of the rule is to improve the accuracy and 
reliability of the Survey. This objective will be achieved by amending 
14 CFR 241.19-7 to include the collection of the identity of the 
ticketed carrier along with the identity of the operating carrier. 
There are about 40 carriers that report the Survey. With the reporting 
of operating and ticketed carriers, DOT would be able to conduct 
balance of benefits analyses for international agreements and monitor 
the adequacy of air service to small communities.

Executive Order 12612

    This proposed rule has been analyzed in accordance with the 
principles and criteria contained in Executive Order 12612 
(``Federalism'') and the DOT has determined the rule does not have 
sufficient federalism implications to warrant the preparation of a 
Federalism Assessment.

Regulatory Flexibility Act

    I certify this proposed rule will not have a significant economic 
impact on a substantial number of small entities. The amendments will 
affect only large certificated U.S. air carriers operating scheduled 
passenger service. The Department's economic regulations define ``large 
certificated air carrier'' as U.S. air carriers, holding a certificate 
issued under 49 U.S.C. 41102, that operate aircraft designed to have a 
maximum passenger capacity of more than 60 seats or a maximum payload 
capacity of more than 18,000 pounds. Consequently, small carriers are 
not affected by this NPRM.

National Environmental Protection Act

    The Bureau of Transportation Statistics has analyzed the proposed 
amendments for the purpose of the National Environmental Protection 
Act. The proposed amendments will not have any impact on the quality of 
human environment.

Paperwork Reduction Act

    The reporting and recordkeeping requirements associated with this 
rule are being sent to the Office of Management and Budget in 
accordance with 44 U.S.C. Chapter 35 under OMB NO: 2139-0001. 
Administration: Bureau of Transportation Statistics; Title: Passenger 
Origin-Destination Survey Report; Need for Information: Statistical 
information on airline passenger movements; Proposed Use of 
Information: Balance of benefits analyses for international agreements 
and monitoring adequacy of air service to small communities; Frequency: 
Quarterly; Burden Estimate: 46,080 annual hours; Average Annual Burden 
Hours per Respondent: 1152. For further information contact: The Office 
of

[[Page 32379]]

Information Resource Management, M-32, Office of the Secretary of 
Transportation, 400 Seventh Street, SW, Washington, DC 20590-0001, 
(202) 366-4735 or Transportation Desk Officer, Office of Management and 
Budget, New Executive Office Building, Room 3228, Washington, DC 20503.

Regulation Identifier Number

    A regulation identifier number (RIN) is assigned to each regulatory 
action listed in the Unified Agenda of Federal Regulations. The 
Regulatory Information Service Center publishes the Unified Agenda in 
April and October of each year. The RIN number 2139-AA04 contained in 
the heading of this document can be used to cross reference this action 
with the Unified Agenda.

List of Subjects in 14 CFR Part 241

    Air carriers uniform system of accounts and reports.

Proposed Rule

    Accordingly, the Bureau of Transportation Statistics proposes to 
amend 14 CFR part 241 Uniform System of Accounts and Reports for Large 
Certificated Air Carriers, as follows:

PART 241--[AMENDED]

    1. Revise Sec. 19-7(b) to read as follows:


Sec. 19-7  Passenger origin-destination survey.

    (a) * * *
    (b) Those participating air carriers that have access to automatic 
data processing (ADP) services shall utilize magnetic tape, cartridge, 
floppy diskette or other ADP media for transmitting the prescribed 
data. Those carriers without ADP capability should contact the Office 
of Airline Information for further instructions ((202) 366-4373).
* * * * *
    2. In Appendix A of Sec. 19-7, revise Sec. V.B to read as follows:
* * * * *
    B. Selection of Reportable Flight Coupons. The flight coupons 
identified above are to be examined to isolate the reportable flight 
coupons, i.e. coupons from which data are to be recorded. Flight 
coupon data are reported only by the first honoring and 
participating carrier (operating carrier). Such carriers shall 
report the required data for the entire ticketed itinerary.
    If a participating carrier has preceded an examining carrier on 
any stage in the trip itinerary, including any stage in a 
conjunction itinerary and any stage in a reissued ticket (either 
before or after reissue) that coupon is not reportable.
    For conjunction tickets, the ticket number for the first ticket 
booklet determines if the conjunction tickets should be reported in 
the Survey. Otherwise, conjunction tickets do not require special 
treatment and are governed by the rules for regular tickets.
    No adjustment is made in the Survey for alterations or changes 
in the trip itinerary subsequent to the stage covered by the 
reportable coupon.

    3. In Appendix A of Sec. 19-7, in Sec. V.D., revise paragraph 
D.(1); the table in paragraph D.(2)(a); paragraph D.(2)(b); paragraph 
(c) and the first paragraph of (d) to read as follows:
* * * * *
    D. Recording of Data from Reportable Flight Coupons. (1) The 
following items are to be reported from the reportable flight 
coupons:
    (a) Point of origin,
    (b) Operating carrier on each flight stage (if unknown, identify 
ticketed carrier),
    (c) Ticketed carrier on each flight stage,
    (d) Fare-basis on each flight coupon, C, D, F, G, X or Y,
    (e) Points of stopover or connection (interline and intraline),
    (f) Point of destination,
    (g) Number of Passengers, and
    (h) Total dollar value of ticket (fare plus tax or other charges 
such as Passenger Facility Charges).

    (2) * * * 
    (a) * * * 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
            000001                 UCA             YV                UA              Y              JFK               TW                TW           X  
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Passengers...................  Utica......  Mesa Operating    United Ticketed   Fare.......  New York Kennedy  TWA Operating     TWA Ticketed     Fare. 
                                             Carrier.          Carrier.                       Airport.          Carrier.          Carrier.              
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                            (Surface segment indicator  
                                           consists of dash dash and a  
                  SFO                     blank in lieu of carrier code 
                                               and fare-basis code)     
------------------------------------------------------------------------
San Francisco..........................  Surface segment.               
------------------------------------------------------------------------


------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
               OAK                          UA                   UA                 G                   LAX                     DL                   DL                  SLC               F    
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Oakland..........................  United Operating     United Ticketed      Fare..........  Los Angeles.............  Delta Operating      Delta Ticketed       Salt Lake City.....  Fare.     
                                    Carrier.             Carrier.                                                       Carrier.             Carrier.                                           
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
              NW                      NW                 D                PHX               AA                AA               C               LAX      
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Northwest Operating Carrier..  Northwest         Fare............  Phoenix.........  American          American         Fare...........  Los Angeles.   
                                Ticketed                                              Operating         Ticketed                                        
                                Carrier.                                              Carrier.          Carrier.                                        
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
               JL                         JL                   C                  NRT                4596       
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Japan Air Lines Operating         Japan Air Lines     Fare..............  Tokyo Narita......  Dollars of Fare + 
 Carrier.                          Ticketed Carrier.                                           Tax.             
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

* * * * *
    (b) All entries for operating and ticketed carriers for a coupon 
stage of an itinerary are to be recorded using two character IATA-
assigned or DOT codes, as in the above example. Note that the fare code 
summary was properly inserted after the ticketed carrier's code, i.e., 
UA for United Air Lines and Y for unrestricted coach class service. 
When a two-character carrier code is shown on the ticket, record that 
code for the

[[Page 32380]]

ticketed carrier. However, if a code is obviously incorrect, record the 
correct carrier code. If the reporting carrier does not know the 
operating carrier on a downline code-share segment, it may use the 
ticketed carrier's code for both the operating and ticketed carriers. 
This applies only when the reporting carrier is not a party to the 
code-share segment. Except for the infrequent compression of data to 
fit into the stage-length limitation (7 or 23 stages at the carrier's 
option), all carrier codes are to be recorded, including data on air 
taxis, commuters, intra-state, and other carrier portions of 
itineraries. On tickets involving interchange service or other 
cooperative carrier arrangements, the juncture point(s) where the 
passenger moves from one carrier system to another is to be recorded as 
an intermediate point in the itinerary, even when not shown on the 
ticket and even though the flight may overfly the junction point.
    (c) Entries for fare-basis codes are to be taken from the ``fare 
basis'' and ``fare description'' portions of the ticket. No Attempt 
shall be made to determine the record fare-basis code for that portion 
of a conjunction ticket appearing in the ticket. Fare-basis codes are 
to be recorded in one-character alphabetic codes. The fare-basis codes 
are recorded as follows:

C--Unrestricted Business Class
D--Restricted Business Class
F--Unrestricted First Class
G--Restricted First Class
X--Restricted Coach/Economy Class
Y--Unrestricted Coach/Economy Class
U--Unknown (This fare category is used when none is shown on a 
ticket coupon, or when a fare category is not discernable, or when 
two or more carrier fare codes are compressed into a single stage of 
a passenger trip).

    (d) In recording the number of passengers, each single-passenger 
ticket is to be recorded as one passenger. Tickets for infants under 
two years of age not occupying a seat are not to be counted. A revenue 
passenger is defined in Section X.
* * * * *
    4. In Appendix A to Sec. 19-7, in Sec. IX, revise the first table 
in paragraph A.(1) and paragraphs B. and C. to read as follows:
* * * * *
    A. * * *
    (1) * * *

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                       Tape                             
              Field                 positions      Tape record layout   
                                    (From-To)                           
------------------------------------------------------------------------
PASSENGER COUNT..................      1-6      1. Passenger field must 
                                                 contain leading zeros, 
                                                 and no blanks.         
1ST CITY CODE....................      7-9                              
1ST OPERATING CARRIER............    10-11                              
1ST TICKETED CARRIER.............    12-13      2. City field contains  
                                                 the 3-letter alpha code
                                                 for the airport in the 
                                                 first 3 positions.     
FARE BASIS CODE..................       14                              
2ND CITY CODE....................    15-17                              
2ND OPERATING CARRIER............    18-19                              
2ND TICKETED CARRIER.............    20-21                              
FARE BASIS CODE..................       22                              
3RD CITY CODE....................    23-25                              
3RD OPERATING CARRIER............    26-27                              
3RD TICKETED CARRIER.............    28-29                              
FARE BASIS CODE..................       30                              
4TH CITY CODE....................    31-33      3. Ticketed & operating 
                                                 carrier fields are to  
                                                 contain the 2 character
                                                 air carrier code. An   
                                                 unknown carrier is to  
                                                 be coded ``UK'' and    
                                                 surface carrier is to  
                                                 be code ``- -'' (dash  
                                                 dash).                 
4TH OPERATING CARRIER............    34-35                              
4TH TICKETED CARRIER.............    36-37                              
FARE BASIS CODE..................       38                              
5TH CITY CODE....................    39-41                              
5TH OPERATING CARRIER............    42-43                              
5TH TICKETED CARRIER.............    44-45                              
FARE BASIS CODE..................       46                              
6TH CITY CODE....................    47-49      4. Fare basis code is a 
                                                 one position alpha     
                                                 code.                  
6TH OPERATING CARRIER............    50-51                              
6TH TICKETED CARRIER.............    52-53                              
FARE BASIS CODE..................       54      5. Portion of record for
                                                 sorting, summarizing,  
                                                 and sequencing includes
                                                 columns 7 through 200. 
7TH CITY CODE....................    55-57                              
7TH OPERATING CARRIER............    58-59                              
7TH TICKETED CARRIER.............    60-61                              
FARE BASIS CODE..................       62                              
8TH CITY CODE....................    63-65      6. Dollar amount in     
                                                 positions 196-200 is   
                                                 right justified.       
8TH OPERATING CARRIER............    66-67                              
8TH TICKETED CARRIER.............    68-69                              
FARE BASIS CODE..................       70      7. Positions 66-193 are 
                                                 used only by those     
                                                 carriers who want to   
                                                 report more data, and  
                                                 are not compressing to 
                                                 7 stages (see Sec.     
                                                 V.D. (3) for           
                                                 compressing rules.     
9TH CITY CODE....................    71-73                              
9TH OPERATING CARRIER............    74-75                              
9TH TICKETED CARRIER.............    76-77                              
FARE BASIS CODE..................       78                              
10TH CITY CODE...................    79-81                              
10TH OPERATING CARRIER...........    82-83                              
10TH TICKETED CARRIER............    84-85                              
FARE BASIS CODE..................       86                              
11TH CITY CODE...................    87-89                              

[[Page 32381]]

                                                                        
11TH OPERATING CARRIER...........    90-91                              
11TH TICKETED CARRIER............    92-93                              
FARE BASIS CODE..................       94                              
12TH CITY CODE...................    95-97                              
12TH OPERATING CARRIER...........    98-99                              
12TH TICKETED CARRIER............  100-101                              
FARE BASIS CODE..................      102                              
13TH CITY CODE...................  103-105                              
13TH OPERATING CARRIER...........  106-107                              
13TH TICKETED CARRIER............  108-109                              
FARE BASIS CODE..................      110                              
14TH CITY CODE...................  111-113                              
14TH OPERATING CARRIER...........  114-115                              
14TH TICKETED CARRIER............  116-117                              
FARE BASIS CODE..................      118                              
15TH CITY CODE...................  119-121                              
15TH OPERATING CARRIER...........  122-123                              
15TH TICKETED CARRIER............  124-125                              
FARE BASIS CODE..................      126                              
16TH CITY CODE...................  127-129                              
16TH OPERATING CARRIER...........  130-131                              
16TH TICKETED CARRIER............  132-133                              
FARE BASIS CODE..................      134                              
17TH CITY CODE...................  135-137                              
17TH OPERATING CARRIER...........  138-139                              
17TH TICKETED CARRIER............  140-141                              
FARE BASIS CODE..................      142                              
18TH CITY CODE...................  143-145                              
18TH OPERATING CARRIER...........  146-147                              
18TH TICKETED CARRIER............  148-149                              
FARE BASIS CODE..................      150                              
19TH CITY CODE...................  151-153                              
19TH OPERATING CARRIER...........  154-155                              
19TH TICKETED CARRIER............  156-157                              
FARE BASIS CODE..................      158                              
20TH CITY CODE...................  159-161                              
20TH OPERATING CARRIER...........  162-163                              
20TH TICKETED CARRIER............  164-165                              
FARE BASIS CODE..................      166                              
21ST CITY CODE...................  167-169                              
21ST OPERATING CARRIER...........  170-171                              
21ST TICKETED CARRIER............  172-173                              
FARE BASIS CODE..................      174                              
22ND CITY CODE...................  175-177                              
22ND OPERATING CARRIER...........  178-179                              
22ND TICKETED CARRIER............  180-181                              
FARE BASIS CODE..................      182                              
23RD CITY CODE...................  183-185                              
23RD OPERATING CARRIER...........  186-187                              
23RD TICKETED CARRIER............  188-189                              
FARE BASIS CODE..................      190                              
24TH CITY CODE...................  191-193                              
BLANK............................  194-195                              
US VALUE OF TICKET IN $..........  196-200                              
------------------------------------------------------------------------



* * * * *
    B. Editing of Tape Records. Prior to submission of data, each 
carrier is requested to edit and correct its data so that its O&D 
Survey report may be as error-free as is reasonably practicable. The 
methods to be used in editing are left to the carriers' discretion, 
but with assistance available upon request from the Department's 
Office of Airline Information (OAI). To aid the carriers in 
maintaining a current file of editing criteria, OAI will re-issue, 
as needed, the city/airport-carrier file to each participating 
carrier. There will be a five-position field to denote the city/
airport-carrier. The first three positions denotes the airport and 
the last two positions denotes the air carrier.
    C. Standard Formats for Floppy Disk or Cartridge Submissions. 
Carriers should use the 200 position format with the standard length 
fields prescribed for magnetic media submissions. The record layout 
is detailed in subsection A(1) of this section. However, to simplify 
the PC submissions, the submitter may report the dollar value of the 
ticket in the field immediately after the last reported city code, 
rather than in positions 196-200. Submitters may separate fields by 
using commas or tabs (comma delimited ASCII or tab delimited ASCII 
format).

    5. In Appendix A to Sec. 19-7, in Sec. X., revise the definition of 
``Fare basis code and add the following new definitions to read as 
follows:
* * * * *
    Fare basis code. The alphabetic code(s) or combination of 
alphabetic and numeric codes appearing in the ``Fare basis'' box on 
the flight coupon which describe the applicable service and discount 
to which the passenger is entitled. All fare basis codes are 
summarized into basic categories; namely C--Unrestricted Business 
Class, D--Restricted Business Class, F--Unrestricted

[[Page 32382]]

First Class, G--Restricted First Class, X--Restricted Coach/Economy 
Class, Y--Unrestricted Coach/Economy Class, and U--Unknown (This 
fare category is used when none is shown on a ticket coupon, or when 
a fare category is not discernable, or when two or more carrier fare 
codes are compressed into a single stage of a passenger trip).
* * * * *
    Operating air carrier. Under a code-share arrangement, the air 
carrier whose aircraft and flight crew are used to perform a flight 
segment.
* * * * *
    Ticketed air carrier. Under a code-share arrangement, the air 
carrier whose two-character air carrier code is used for a flight 
segment, whether or not it actually operates the flight segment.
* * * * *
    Issued in Washington, DC, on May 31, 1996.
Charles A. Hunnicutt,
Assistant Secretary for Aviation and International Affairs.
[FR Doc. 96-16045 Filed 6-21-96; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-62-P