[Federal Register Volume 66, Number 198 (Friday, October 12, 2001)]
[Notices]
[Pages 52170-52171]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 01-25725]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

[Docket No. FAA-2001-9854]


Notice of Alternative Policy Options for Managing Capacity at 
LaGuardia Airport and Proposed Extension of the Lottery Allocation; 
Suspension of the Closing Date of the Comment Period

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice to suspend until further notice the closing date of the 
comment period on alternative policy options for managing capacity and 
mitigating congestion and delay at LaGuardia Airport (LGA).

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SUMMARY: In a notice published on June 12, 2001, the FAA requested 
comments on the feasibility and effectiveness of five different demand 
management options that could be used to replace the current temporary 
administrative limits on the number of aircraft operations at LGA. The 
comment period is scheduled to close on October 12, 2001. This notice 
suspends the closing date of the comment period until further notice.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jeffrey Wharff, Senior Economist, 
Office of Aviation Policy and Plans, 800 Independence Avenue, SW., 
Washington, DC 20591; telephone number 202-267-7035.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    On June 12, 2001, the FAA issued a ``Notice of Alternative Policy 
Options for Managing Capacity at LaGuardia Airport and Proposed 
Extension of the Lottery Allocation'' (65 FR 31731, June 12, 2001). In 
that notice, commenters were asked to submit detailed analyses of two 
different market-based approaches and three types of administrative 
options to allocate capacity at LGA. Commenters were also encouraged to 
submit comments on alternative approaches to allocate capacity at LGA.

[[Page 52171]]

Suspension of the Closing Date of the Comment Period

    The terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001 on the World Trade 
Center and the Pentagon caused the FAA to temporarily cease all non-
military flights in the United States and required airports and 
airlines to adopt certain security measures prior to the resumption of 
commercial service. In response to the new security requirements and 
lowered passenger demand, several, airlines have reduced the number of 
aircraft operations below previously planned levels throughout the 
national airport system, including LGA. These factors, at least in the 
short-run, have contributed to a significant decrease in airport 
congestion at LGA. In addition, the FAA has received a joint request 
(dated September 28, 2001) by the Air Transport Association, Regional 
Airline Association, National Air Carrier Association, American 
Association of Airport Executives, and the Cargo Airline Association 
for the FAA to suspend indefinitely its consideration of alternative 
demand management policy options or at a minimum extend the comment 
period by 180 days. In a letter dated October 8, 2001, the Air Carrier 
Association of America disagrees that all issues addressed in the June 
12, 2001, Federal Register notice be delayed for any time period.
    In these circumstances, the FAA has determined that it would be 
reasonable and in the public interest to suspend until further notice 
the closing date of the comment period for the notice 65 FR 31731, June 
12, 2001. At the appropriate time, FAA will publish an advance notice 
giving the new closing date and an indication whether the scope or 
nature of the demand management options under consideration have 
changed.

    Issued on October 9, 2001 in Washington, DC.
John M. Rodgers,
Director of the Office of Aviation Policy and Plans.
[FR Doc. 01-25725 Filed 10-9-01; 4:16 pm]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-M