[Federal Register Volume 67, Number 56 (Friday, March 22, 2002)]
[Notices]
[Pages 13401-13402]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 02-6973]


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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; 
Notice of Comment Period Closing Date

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), DOT.

ACTION: Notice of comment period closing date.

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SUMMARY: This action establishes a new closing date for the comment 
period for Phase II of the notice ``Alternative Policy Options for 
Managing Capacity at LaGuardia Airport and Proposed Extension of the 
Lottery Allocation.'' The FAA indefinitely suspended the closing date 
for the comment period for Phase II after the terrorist attacks on 
September 11, 2001.

ADDRESSES: Comments should be mailed or delivered in duplicate to: U.S. 
Department of Transportation Dockets, Docket No. FAA-2001-9854, 400 
Seventh Street, SW, Room Plaza 401, Washington, DC 20590. Comments may 
also be sent electronically to the following Internet address: 
DMS.dot.gov. Comments may be filed and/or examined in Room Plaza 401 
between 10:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. weekdays except Federal holidays.

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

Background

    On June 12, 2001, the FAA published a notice in the Federal 
Register seeking comments on a proposed extension of the slot exemption 
lottery allocation (Phase I) and several demand management options for 
LaGuardia Airport (Phase II) (66 FR 31731). Specifically, with respect 
to Phase II, the FAA sought 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

[[Page 13402]]

number of aircraft operations at LaGuardia Airport (LGA). These five 
demand management options include both administrative and market-based 
approaches to allocate capacity. The details of each approach are 
described in the notice and can be accessed electronically through the 
following URL: http://api.hq.faa.gov/lga/index.htm.
    Following the aircraft hijackings and terrorist attacks on 
September 11, 2001, the FAA temporarily ceased all non-military flights 
in the United States and required the adoption of certain security 
measures prior to the resumption of commercial air service. Several air 
carriers reduced flight schedules below previously planned levels 
throughout the national airport system, including LGA, in order to 
adjust to operational changes brought on by the new security 
requirements and reductions in passenger demand. Given these events, 
the FAA suspended, by notice issued on October 12, 2001, the closing 
date for the comment period on Phase II until further notice (66 FR 
52170). The FAA indicated in that notice that at a later date it would 
publish a notice setting forth the new closing date and indicate 
whether the scope or nature of the demand management options under 
consideration have changed.

Current Action

    Utilization rates of slot and slot exemptions at LGA are currently 
below last year's levels by approximately 14 percent. However, based on 
projected airline schedules for LGA, it appears that operations at LGA 
should return to their pre-September, 2001 levels by the end of the 
summer of 2002. Consequently, the FAA believes that it is appropriate 
to resume the discussion on long-term demand management alternatives 
for LGA.
    Additionally, several recent actions may affect commenters' view of 
the identified demand management options, such as the attacks of 
September 11, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey's rate 
increase for LGA, John F. Kennedy International Airports and Newark 
International Airport, and the shift in fleet mix resulting in an 
increase number of regional jet operations at LGA since September 11. 
The FAA invites comments on the long-term effects of these actions on 
the stated options. Therefore, the comment period for Phase II will 
close 90 days from the publication date of this notice.

    Issued on March 18, 2002 in Washington, DC.
John M. Rodgers,
Director of the Office of Aviation Policy and Plans.
[FR Doc. 02-6973 Filed 3-21-02; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-M