[Federal Register Volume 86, Number 179 (Monday, September 20, 2021)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 52114-52120]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2021-20400]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration

14 CFR Part 93

[Docket No. FAA-2020-0862]


COVID-19 Related Relief Concerning Operations at Chicago O'Hare 
International Airport, John F. Kennedy International Airport, Los 
Angeles International Airport, Newark Liberty International Airport, 
New York LaGuardia Airport, Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, 
and San Francisco International Airport for the Winter 2021/2022 
Scheduling Season

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Department of 
Transportation (DOT).

ACTION: Notice of proposed extension of a limited, conditional waiver 
of the minimum slot usage requirement for all international operations.

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SUMMARY: The FAA proposes to extend through March 26, 2022, the 
Coronavirus (COVID-19)-related limited, conditional waiver of the 
minimum slot usage requirement at John F. Kennedy International Airport 
(JFK), New York LaGuardia Airport (LGA), and Ronald Reagan Washington 
National Airport (DCA) that the FAA has already made available through 
October 30, 2021, for all international operations. Similarly, the FAA 
proposes to extend through March 26, 2022, its COVID-19-related 
limited, conditional policy for prioritizing flights canceled at 
designated International Air Transport Association (IATA) Level 2 
airports in the United States, for purposes of establishing a carrier's 
operational baseline in the next corresponding season, for all 
international operations. These IATA Level 2 airports include Chicago 
O'Hare International Airport (ORD), Newark Liberty International 
Airport (EWR), Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), and San 
Francisco International Airport (SFO). This relief would be limited to 
slots and approved operating times used by any carrier for 
international operations only, through March 26, 2022, and would be 
subject to the same terms and conditions, with minor modifications, 
that the FAA has already applied to the relief that remains available 
through October 30, 2021. This notice invites stakeholders to submit 
comments with detailed supporting information relevant to FAA making a 
final decision. The FAA anticipates subsequently providing notice of 
its final decision.

DATES: Submit comments on or before September 27, 2021.

[[Page 52115]]


ADDRESSES: Submit written views and supporting data by email to the 
Slot Administration Office at [email protected].

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Al Meilus, Manager, Slot 
Administration, AJR-G, Federal Aviation Administration, 800 
Independence Avenue SW, Washington, DC 20591; telephone (202) 267-2822; 
email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

Background

    On March 16, 2020, the FAA granted a limited waiver of the minimum 
slot usage requirements \1\ to carriers operating at all slot-
controlled airports in the United States (DCA, JFK, and LGA) \2\ and 
related relief to carriers operating at designated IATA Level 2 
airports in the United States (EWR, LAX, ORD, SFO) due to the 
extraordinary impacts on the demand for air travel resulting from the 
COVID-19 pandemic.\3\ Since the initial slot usage waiver and related 
relief was provided, the FAA has taken action to extend the relief 
provided on three occasions subject to certain substantive changes, 
including the addition of conditions, as the COVID-19 situation 
continued to evolve.\4\ The most recent limited, conditional extension 
of COVID-19 related relief was issued by the FAA on January 13, 2021, 
and is due to expire on October 31, 2021.\5\
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    \1\ The FAA has authority for developing ``plans and policy for 
the use of the navigable airspace'' and for assigning ``by 
regulation or order the use of the airspace necessary to ensure the 
safety of aircraft and the efficient use of airspace.'' 49 U.S.C. 
40103(b)(1). The FAA manages slot usage requirements under the 
authority of 14 CFR 93.227 at DCA and under the authority of Orders 
at JFK and LGA. See Operating Limitations at John F. Kennedy 
International Airport, 85 FR 58258 (Sep. 18, 2020); Operating 
Limitations at New York LaGuardia Airport, 85 FR 58255 (Sep. 18, 
2020).
    \2\ Although DCA and LGA are not designated as IATA Level 3 
slot-controlled airports given that these airports primarily serve 
domestic destinations, the FAA limits operations at these airports 
via rules at DCA and an Order at LGA that are equivalent to IATA 
Level 3. See FN 1. The FAA reiterates that the relief provided in 
the March 16, 2020, notice (85 FR 15018), the April 17, 2020, notice 
(85 FR 21500), the October 7, 2020, notice (85 FR 63335), and this 
policy statement, extends to all allocated slots, including slots 
allocated by exemption.
    \3\ Notice of Limited Waiver of the Slot Usage Requirement, 85 
FR 15,018 (Mar. 16, 2020).
    \4\ Notice of Extension of Limited Waiver of the Minimum Slot 
Usage Requirement, 85 FR 21,500 (Apr. 17, 2020); Extension of 
Limited Waiver of the Minimum Slot Usage Requirement, 85 FR 63,335 
(Oct. 7, 2020); and FAA Policy Statement: Limited, Conditional 
Extension of COVID-19 Related Relief for the Summer 2021 Scheduling 
Season (Docket No. FAA-2020-0862-0302).
    \5\ FAA Policy Statement: Limited, Conditional Extension of 
COVID-19 Related Relief for the Summer 2021 Scheduling Season 
(Docket No. FAA-2020-0862-0302).
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Current COVID-19 Situation

    Since the FAA's January 13, 2021, policy statement granting a 
limited, conditional extension of COVID-19-related relief at slot-
controlled airports and IATA Level 2 airports in the United States, 
COVID-19 has continued to cause disruption globally and the timeline 
for recovery from this global pandemic remains uncertain. The World 
Health Organization (WHO) reports COVID-19 cases in more than 200 
countries, areas, and territories worldwide.\6\ For the week ending 
September 12, 2021, the WHO reported nearly 4 million new COVID-19 
cases and just over 62,000 new deaths, bringing the cumulative total to 
more than 224 million reported COVID-19 cases and more than 4.6 million 
deaths globally since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic.\7\
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    \6\ https://covid19.who.int/table.
    \7\ COVID-19 weekly epidemiological update, September 14, 2021, 
available at: https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/situation-reports See also https://covid19.who.int/ 
for WHO COVID-19 Dashboard with the most current number of cases 
reported.
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    The WHO reports that it is monitoring multiple variants globally; 
currently the WHO has classified four different variants as ``variants 
of concern'' and five different variants as ``variants of interest.'' 
\8\ The Center for Disease Control (CDC) is monitoring four variants of 
COVID-19 in the United States.\9\ These variants include: The B.1.1.7 
(Alpha), B.1.351 (Beta), P.1 (Gamma), and B.1.617.2 (Delta).\10\ The 
CDC has stated that these variants of concern--including the current 
dominant Delta variant--spread more easily and quickly. However, the 
CDC reports that so far, studies suggest that the current Food and Drug 
Administration (FDA)-approved or authorized vaccines do work against 
the circulating variants.\11\
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    \8\ https://www.who.int/en/activities/tracking-SARS-CoV-2-variants/.
    \9\ Center for Disease Control (CDC), About Variants of the 
Virus that Causes COVID-19, available at: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/variants/variant.html.
    \10\ Id.
    \11\ Id. See also https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/vaccines/effectiveness/work.html.
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    On January 21, 2021, President Biden announced the National 
Strategy for the COVID-19 Response and Pandemic Preparedness, a 
national strategy to beat the COVID-19 pandemic.\12\ The strategy is a 
comprehensive plan that starts with restoring public trust and mounting 
an aggressive, safe, and effective vaccination campaign while 
continuing with the steps that stop the spread like expanded masking, 
testing, and social distancing. On September 9, 2021, President Biden 
announced a six-pronged approach to expand vaccinations, provide 
booster shots, keep schools safely open, increase testing and masking, 
protect the economic recovery, and improve care for those with COVID-
19.\13\
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    \12\ https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/National-Strategy-for-the-COVID-19-Response-and-Pandemic-Preparedness.pdf.
    \13\ President Biden's COVID-19 Plan [bond] The White House.
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    Currently three COVID-19 vaccines have been authorized for 
emergency use or approved by the FDA.\14\ As of September 13, 2021, 
53.9% of Americans are fully vaccinated and 63.2% of Americans have 
received at least one dose.\15\ Increased rates of vaccination in the 
U.S., along with other measures to stop the spread have resulted in an 
overall decline of the U.S. COVID-19 infection rate since the previous 
COVID-19 waiver proceeding. However, cases increased again following 
the U.S. reaching its lowest rates of infection experienced since the 
week of March 16, 2020 (79,358 confirmed new cases for the week of June 
14 reflected the lowest rate of infection since the week of March, 16, 
2020).\16\ When the FAA extended COVID-19-related relief on January 13, 
2021, the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the U.S. for the 
week of January 11, 2021, based on WHO data, was 1,580,016.\17\ For the 
week ending September 12, 2021, which is the most recent week for which 
data is available, the WHO reports 1,034,836 confirmed cases in the 
United States.\18\
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    \14\ https://www.fda.gov/emergency-preparedness-and-response/coronavirus-disease-2019-covid-19/covid-19-vaccines.
    \15\ CDC, COVID-19 Vaccinations in the United States, updated 
September 13, 2021, available at: https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/#vaccinations.
    \16\ https://covid19.who.int/region/amro/country/us.
    \17\ FAA Policy Statement: Limited, Conditional Extension of 
COVID-19 Related Relief for the Summer 2021 Scheduling Season. 
(Docket No. FAA-2020-0862-0302). See also https://covid19.who.int/region/amro/country/us.
    \18\ COVID-19 weekly epidemiological update, September 14, 2021, 
available at: https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019/situation-reports. See also https://covid19.who.int/region/amro/country/us.
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    The U.S. is attempting to distribute vaccines globally to help 
vaccination numbers improve.\19\ On August 18, 2021, President Biden 
announced that in the months of June and July the United States had 
donated 100 million doses and that in the coming months of fall and 
early winter another 100 million boosters and 200 million

[[Page 52116]]

additional doses will be donated to other countries.\20\
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    \19\ https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/statements-releases/2021/06/03/statement-by-president-joe-biden-on-global-vaccine-distribution/.
    \20\ https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/speeches-remarks/2021/08/18/remarks-by-president-biden-on-fighting-the-covid-19-pandemic-2/.
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    The President has placed a suspension and limitation on entry into 
the United States for non-U.S. citizens or permanent residents who have 
been present in, several foreign countries within the preceding 14 
days.\21\ International travel advisories issued by the U.S. Department 
of State's Global Health Advisory remain in effect worldwide, including 
designations ranging from Level 1--Exercise Normal Precautions to Level 
4--Do Not Travel for more than 200 destinations.\22\ A majority of 
countries are designated either Level 3 of Level 4--where COVID-19 
numbers are classified as high and very high, respectively.\23\ The 
U.S. Department of State advises that challenges to any international 
travel at this time may include mandatory quarantines, travel 
restrictions, and closed borders. The U.S. Department of State has 
noted further that foreign governments may implement restrictions with 
little notice, even in destinations that were previously low risk. 
Accordingly, the U.S. Department of State has warned Americans choosing 
to travel internationally that their trip may be disrupted severely and 
it may be difficult to arrange travel back to the United States. The 
CDC advises prospective domestic travelers to consider whether their 
destination has requirements or restrictions for travelers, and notes 
that State, local, and territorial governments may have travel 
restrictions in place, including testing requirements, stay-at-home 
orders, and quarantine requirements upon arrival.\24\
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    \21\ https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/presidential-actions/2021/01/25/proclamation-on-the-suspension-of-entry-as-immigrants-and-non-immigrants-of-certain-additional-persons-who-pose-a-risk-of-transmitting-coronavirus-disease/.
    \22\ https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/traveladvisories/traveladvisories.html/.
    \23\ https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/map-and-travel-notices.html#travel-4.
    \24\ https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/travelers/travel-during-covid19.html.
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Standard Applicable to This Waiver Proceeding

    The FAA reiterates the standards applicable to petitions for 
waivers of the minimum slot usage requirements in effect at DCA, JFK, 
and LGA, as discussed in the FAA's initial decision granting relief due 
to COVID-19 impacts.\25\ At JFK and LGA, each slot must be used at 
least 80 percent of the time.\26\ Slots not meeting the minimum usage 
requirements will be withdrawn. The FAA may waive the 80 percent usage 
requirement in the event of a highly unusual and unpredictable 
condition that is beyond the control of the slot-holding air carrier 
and which affects carrier operations for a period of five consecutive 
days or more.\27\
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    \25\ See 85 FR 15018 (Mar. 16, 2020).
    \26\ Operating Limitations at John F. Kennedy International 
Airport, 85 FR 58258 (Sep. 18, 2020); Operating Limitations at New 
York LaGuardia Airport, 85 FR 47065 at 58255 (Sep. 18, 2020).
    \27\ At JFK, historical rights to operating authorizations and 
withdrawal of those rights due to insufficient usage will be 
determined on a seasonal basis and in accordance with the schedule 
approved by the FAA prior to the commencement of the applicable 
season. See JFK Order, 85 FR at 58260. At LGA, any operating 
authorization not used at least 80 percent of the time over a two-
month period will be withdrawn by the FAA. See LGA Order, 85 FR at 
58257.
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    At DCA, any slot not used at least 80 percent of the time over a 
two-month period also will be recalled by the FAA.\28\ The FAA may 
waive this minimum usage requirement in the event of a highly unusual 
and unpredictable condition that is beyond the control of the slot-
holding carrier and which exists for a period of nine or more days.\29\
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    \28\ See 14 CFR 93.227(a).
    \29\ See 14 CFR 93.227(j).
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    When making decisions concerning historical rights to allocated 
slots, including whether to grant a waiver of the usage requirement, 
the FAA seeks to ensure the efficient use of valuable aviation 
infrastructure while maximizing the benefits to airport users and the 
traveling public. This minimum usage requirement is expected to 
accommodate routine cancelations under all but the most unusual 
circumstances. Carriers proceed at risk if, at any time prior to a 
final decision, they make decisions in anticipation of the FAA granting 
a slot usage waiver.

Summary of Petitions From Stakeholders Concerning Continued COVID-19 
Relief

    The FAA has received nine petitions regarding COVID-19-related 
relief for the Winter 2021/2022 season to date. Five petitioners, 
including the International Air Transport Association (IATA), Avianca 
Airlines, All Nippon Airways (ANA), Lufthansa Group, and Airlines for 
America (A4A) \30\ seek further relief through the end of the Winter 
2021/2022 scheduling season due to ongoing COVID-19 impacts on demand 
for air travel. These petitioners emphasize the critical importance of 
an expedient decision to provide the industry with stability and 
certainty during the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Three petitioners, 
including JetBlue Airways (JetBlue), Southwest Airlines Co. 
(Southwest), and Airports Council International-North America (ACI-NA), 
oppose further extension of the limited, conditional relief FAA has 
made available through October 30, 2021. ACI-NA and JetBlue oppose any 
further relief due to COVID-19; however, JetBlue recognizes the 
potential need for relief for international operations and urges FAA to 
adopt a case-by-case approach to evaluating petitions for relief. 
Southwest specifically opposes any further relief at U.S. domestic 
airports, DCA and LGA. One petitioner submitted a petition marked 
privileged and confidential.
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    \30\ All petitions and other submissions related to COVID-19 
relief beyond the Summer 2021 season received by the FAA, with 
exception of one petition which was marked privileged and 
confidential, have been included in the docket for this proceeding. 
The FAA notes that two submissions were received from IATA, dated 
June 4 and June 25, 2021, respectively.
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    IATA, Avianca, ANA, and Lufthansa Group support continued relief 
for international operations at U.S. slot-controlled and IATA Level 2 
airports and would prefer the FAA adopt the Worldwide Airport Slot 
Board's (WASB) slot relief package.\31\ The FAA has previously 
described the provisions of the WASB slot relief package and explained 
how the provisions would be applied in the United States, if adopted, 
in a notice of proposed extension of a limited, conditional waiver of 
minimum slot usage requirement beyond March 27, 2021, which was 
published in the Federal Register on December 22, 2020 (85 FR 83672). 
The WASB slot relief package remains unchanged from the prior slot 
relief proceeding.
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    \31\ A summary of the WASB proposal for Winter 2021/2022 was 
included in an annex to IATA's June 4, 2021 petition, which has been 
placed in the docket for this proceeding.
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    IATA believes ``the situation remains critically desperate and 
recovery slow'' highlighting the ``uncertainty around the need for 
booster vaccinations this fall, the impact of variants and government 
management of restrictions related to these outbreaks, lack of 
significant corporate demand until at least 2022, significant new 
outbreaks in Asia and Latin American and the related government 
retraction from reopening, as well as the disparity between countries 
approaches to managing the risk'' as justification for continued slot 
relief for international operations. IATA states that flexibility from 
continued slot usage relief ``enables airlines to focus flying where 
there is demand and not purely to satisfy slot use rules'' and that 
``worsening the competitive position of U.S. aviation as it emerges

[[Page 52117]]

from the crisis only serves to jeopardize more jobs and further risks 
U.S. international connectivity.''
    A4A supports a waiver of minimum slot usage requirements for 
international operations at U.S. slot-controlled airports and IATA 
Level 2 airports. A4A believes a waiver of minimum slot usage 
requirements for international operations is needed because 
``international demand remains repressed and to ensure a level playing 
field.'' A4A states that international operations ``remain 
significantly deterred as a result of COVID-19 and direct government 
actions.'' Further A4A highlights that ``many countries have included 
reciprocity requirements previously and will likely wait until the U.S. 
acts before providing relief to ensure foreign carrier access to slots 
and gates in the U.S. when they resume operations.'' A4A asserts, 
``without reciprocity U.S. carriers will lose slots in key 
international markets and be put at a significant competitive 
disadvantage relative to foreign competitors.''
    JetBlue and ACI-NA oppose continued slot usage relief and support a 
return to usual 80/20 minimum slot usage requirements. ACI-NA believes 
that ``the U.S. is turning the corner in our battle against 
Coronavirus'' and that ``there are beginning to be opportunities for 
international travel.'' ACI-NA states that ending slot usage waivers 
``will allow affected airports to begin piecing together their future 
air services portfolios that enable airports to drive sustainable 
economic growth for the communities they serve.'' Likewise, JetBlue 
believes that ``demand has returned and is growing and the U.S. airline 
industry will not be able to recover with full haste if competition-
altering slot waivers continue without restriction.'' In addition, 
JetBlue believes that international flying levels may never return and 
broad waivers discourage the repurposing of slots previously used for 
international service. However, JetBlue states that it ``appreciates 
the complexities in international markets that were raised in the IATA 
letter'' and urges that ``DOT/FAA enable a case-by-case evaluation for 
limited exemptions based on extreme circumstances such as border 
closure or conditions of entry that represent de facto border 
closure.''
    Southwest opposes continued slot usage relief at domestic-focused 
airports. Southwest specifically requests that the FAA ``reject any 
further requests for waivers of slot usage requirements for DCA and 
LGA, considering (a) the resurgence in the demand for domestic airline 
travel since March 2021, and (b) that DCA and LGA have perimeter 
restrictions that ensures the vast majority of flights from these 
airports are domestic.'' In addition, Southwest states, ``reopening 
these two predominately domestic airports would reflect the reality 
that domestic traffic is far more robust than international markets.'' 
Further, Southwest requests the FAA reduce barriers to competition at 
DCA and LGA and believes returning to normal slot usage requirements 
will ``clear the way for such competition to resume.''

Discussion of Proposal

Continued Relief for International Operations Through March 26, 2022

    In consideration of the foregoing information, the petitions that 
the FAA has received, and the evolving and highly unpredictable 
situation globally with respect to ongoing impacts from COVID-19 at the 
current moment, the FAA proposes to extend, for all international 
operations, the current limited, conditional relief that FAA has 
already made available through October 30, 2021, through the end of the 
Winter 2021/2022 season on March 26, 2022.\32\ This relief would be 
limited to slots and approved operating times used by carriers for 
international operations, through March 26, 2022, and would be subject 
to the same terms and conditions, with minor modifications, that the 
FAA has applied to the relief already made available through October 
30, 2021, which the FAA reiterates in this notice. International 
operations, for purpose of this notice, are flights intended for 
operation between one of the U.S. slot-controlled or IATA Level 2 
airports and any point in a foreign jurisdiction.
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    \32\ The FAA notes that for purposes of the relief proposed in 
this proceeding, Canadian carriers would be treated as foreign 
carriers.
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    It is not the policy of the Department of Transportation (DOT) to 
use slot and Level 2 rules to reserve capacity for historic incumbent 
carriers until demand returns to predetermined levels. Instead, it is 
the policy of the Department to encourage high utilization of scarce 
public infrastructure. Under the established standard, slot usage 
waivers are generally used to address short-term, unpredictable shocks 
to demand or capacity that are beyond carriers' control. After 19 
months of experience, the DOT believes it is becoming apparent that 
COVID-19 is causing structural and operational changes to the airline 
industry; the industry is adapting; and the issuance of waivers should 
not hinder that adaptation. As previously stated, at some point in 
time, repeated waivers to preserve pre-COVID slot holdings will impede 
the ability of airports and airlines to provide services that benefit 
the overall national economy and make appropriate use of scarce public 
assets. Therefore, the FAA emphasizes that operators should not assume 
further relief on the basis of COVID-19 will be forthcoming beyond the 
end of the Winter 2021/22 scheduling season.
    IATA reports that international flights globally are operating 
around 88% below 2019 levels, with only slight recovery in 
international traffic forecast by the end of 2021 to about 66% below 
2019 levels. As indicated by IATA, ``[t]he situation remains critically 
desperate and recovery slow with low advance bookings and many more 
last-minute bookings (and cancellations) on most routes projected for 
the foreseeable future. Uncertainty around the need for booster 
vaccinations this fall, the impact of variants and government 
management of restrictions related to these outbreaks, lack of 
significant corporate demand until at least 2022, significant new 
outbreaks in Asia and Latin America and the related government 
retraction from reopening, as well as the disparity between countries 
approaches to managing the risk justifies continued slot relief at this 
time. Without any stability and planning still at a 6-8 week horizon, 
airlines will continue to need maximum flexibility.''
    FAA agrees with these petitioners and believes, based on global 
vaccination rates, changing infection rates and the threat of new virus 
strains, continued unpredictability of international travel 
restrictions, and the disparity between demand for domestic air travel 
and demand for international air travel, that extending the current 
limited, conditional waiver for international operations by all 
carriers, is reasonable. The FAA believes that extending the limited, 
conditional slot usage waiver, for international operations only, 
through the Winter 2021/2022 season would provide carriers with 
flexibility to operate in the unpredictable international market and 
would support long term viability of carrier operations at slot-
controlled and IATA Level 2 airports in the United States.
    The FAA recognizes that domestic carriers have a mix of both 
domestic and international operations and therefore the agency intends 
to make this relief available for international operations that would 
have been operated in the Winter 2021/2022 season, but for COVID-19 
impacts. In other words, the FAA intends to provide this conditional 
relief to domestic carriers on a scale that

[[Page 52118]]

is comparable to each carrier's pre-COVID level of international 
service. The FAA would generally evaluate any request for relief from 
U.S. carriers for the Winter 2021/2022 scheduling season based on 
historical levels of operations to foreign points as demonstrated in 
published schedules. Domestic carriers seeking relief for a particular 
operation under the waiver will need to provide the FAA, if not readily 
apparent from FAA records and historic published schedule data, 
alternative supplemental information that predates this notice to 
demonstrate intent to use a slot or approved operating time for an 
international destination. The FAA would not accept evidence of intent 
to use a particular slot or approved operating time for an 
international flight during the Winter 2021/2022 season, if the 
information is dated after this notice is issued.
    International operations eligible for a waiver under this proposal 
would be subject to all of the same conditions and policies, with minor 
modifications, described in FAA's January 13, 2021 policy statement, 
which remains in effect at slot-controlled and IATA Level 2 airports in 
the United States for the Summer 2021 season.\33\ The FAA believes the 
conditions associated with the relief provided to date are generally 
comparable to the WASB package and remain necessary to strike a balance 
between competing interests of incumbent carriers and those carriers 
seeking new or increased access at these historically-constrained 
airports, as well as to ensure the relief is appropriately tailored to 
reduce the potential to suppress flight operations for which demand 
exists. The conditions for relief at slot-controlled airports, which 
the FAA would apply to the relief proposed in this notice, include:
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    \33\ FAA Policy Statement: Limited, Conditional Extension of 
COVID-19 Related Relief for the Summer 2021 Scheduling Season. 
(Docket No. FAA-2020-0862-0302).
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    (1) All slots not intended to be operated must be returned at least 
four weeks prior to the date of the FAA-approved operation to allow 
other carriers an opportunity to operate these slots on an ad hoc basis 
without historic precedence. Compliance with this condition is required 
for operations scheduled from October 31, 2021 through the duration of 
this relief; therefore, carriers should begin notifying the FAA of 
Winter returns by October 4, 2021. Slots operated as approved on a non-
historic basis in Winter 2021/2022 will be given priority over new 
demands for the same timings in the next equivalent season (Winter 
2022/23) for use on a non-historic basis, subject to capacity 
availability and consistent with established rules and policies in 
effect in the United States.34 35 Foreign carriers seeking 
priority under this provision will be required to represent that their 
home jurisdiction will provide reciprocal priority to U.S. carrier 
requests of this nature.
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    \34\ Consistent with the FAA's final policy statement issued 
January 13, 2021, this priority would apply to slot or schedule 
requests for Winter 2022/2023, which are comparable in timing, 
frequency, and duration to the non-historic ad hoc approvals made by 
the FAA for Winter 2021/2022. This priority does not affect the 
historic precedence or priority of slot holders and carriers with 
schedule approvals, respectively, which meet the conditions of the 
waiver during Winter 2021/2022 and seek to resume operating in 
Winter 2022/2023. The FAA may consider this priority in the event 
that slots with historic precedence become available for permanent 
allocation by the FAA.
    \35\ Although the FAA is proposing to extend the four-week 
rolling return policy consistent with the Summer 2021 waiver, any 
carrier returning full-season slots or schedule approvals at an 
airport outside the United States and associated with a route to the 
United States will generally be expected to similarly return the 
complementary full-season U.S. slot or schedule approval to the FAA 
for re-allocation on a non-historic or ad hoc basis.
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    (2) The waiver does not apply to slots newly allocated for initial 
use during the Winter 2021/2022 season. New allocations meeting minimum 
usage requirements remain eligible for historic precedence. The waiver 
does not apply to historic in-kind slots within any 30-minute or 60-
minute time period, as applicable, in which a carrier seeks and obtains 
a similar new allocation (i.e., arrival or departure, air carrier or 
commuter, if applicable); and,
    (3) the waiver does not apply to slots newly transferred on an 
uneven basis (i.e., via one-way slot transaction/lease) since October 
15, 2020, for the duration of the transfer.\36\ Slots transferred prior 
to this date may benefit from the waiver if all other conditions are 
met. Slots granted historic precedence for subsequent seasons based on 
this relief are not eligible for transfer if the slot holder ceases all 
operations at the airport.
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    \36\ As previously explained, the FAA has determined not to 
revise this condition to include a buffer period for new transfers 
to be completed and still benefit from this waiver. Therefore, this 
policy will remain in effect continuously from the initial effective 
date of October 16, 2020.
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    In addition, as proposed, an exception may be granted to these 
conditions based on any government restriction that prevents or 
severely restricts international travel to specific airports, 
destinations (including intermediate points) or countries for which the 
slot was held. This exception applies under extraordinary circumstances 
only in which a carrier is able to demonstrate that the ability to 
operate a particular flight or comply with the conditions of the 
proposed waiver is prevented or severely restricted due to an 
unpredictable official governmental action related to COVID-19. This 
proposed exception includes minor modifications compared to the 
exception currently in effect for the Summer 2021 season.\37\ The FAA 
seeks to provide greater flexibility in allowing exceptions under 
certain circumstances based on issues that have arisen in the course of 
implementing the relief currently available. Official government 
actions that may qualify for this exception, include--
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    \37\ See FAA Policy Statement: Limited, Conditional Extension of 
COVID-19 Related Relief for the Summer 2021 Scheduling Season 
(Docket No. FAA-2020-0862-0302).
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     Government travel restrictions based on nationality, 
closed borders, government advisories related to COVID-19 that warn 
against all but essential travel, or complete bans on flights from/to 
certain countries or geographic areas.
     Government restrictions related to COVID-19 on the maximum 
number of arriving or departing flights and/or the number of passengers 
on a specific flight or through a specific airport.
     Government restrictions on movement or quarantine/
isolation measures within the country or region where the airport or 
destination (including intermediate points) is located.
     Government-imposed closure of businesses essential to 
support aviation activities (e.g., closure of hotels, ground handling 
suppliers, etc.).
     Governmental restrictions on airline crew, including 
unreasonable entry requirements or unreasonable testing and/or 
quarantine measures.
    This exception is being administered by the FAA in coordination 
with the Office of the Secretary of Transportation (OST). The 
extraordinary circumstances exception in this slot usage relief would 
only apply within the scope of the relief otherwise provided by the 
waiver; U.S. carriers should not expect to rely on the extraordinary 
circumstances exception for relief for domestic operations.
    The conditions for COVID-19-related relief for prioritizing flights 
canceled at IATA Level 2 airports, for purposes of establishing a 
carrier's operational baseline in the next corresponding season, which 
the FAA would apply to the relief proposed in this notice include:
    (1) All schedules as initially submitted by carriers and approved 
by

[[Page 52119]]

the FAA and not intended to be operated must be returned at least four 
weeks prior to the date of the FAA-approved operation to allow other 
carriers an opportunity to operate these times on an ad hoc basis 
without historic precedence. Schedules operated as approved on an ad 
hoc basis in Winter 2021/2022 will be given priority over new demands 
for the same timings in the next equivalent season (Winter 2022/2023) 
for use on an ad hoc basis, subject to capacity availability and 
consistent with established rules and policies in effect in the United 
States. Foreign carriers seeking priority under this provision would be 
required to represent that their home jurisdiction will provide 
reciprocal priority to U.S. carrier requests of this nature; and,
    (2) The priority for FAA schedules approved for Winter 2021/2022 
does not apply to net-newly approved operations for initial use during 
the Winter 2021/2022 season. New approved times will remain eligible 
for priority consideration in Winter 2022/2023 if actually operated in 
Winter 2021/2022 according to established processes.
    Consistent with the proposal for slot-controlled airports, limited 
exceptions may be granted from either or both of these conditions at 
Level 2 airports under extraordinary circumstances due to any 
government restriction that prevents or severely restricts travel to 
specific airports, destinations (including intermediate points), or 
countries for which the slot was held, as discussed previously with 
respect to slot-controlled airports. If the exception is determined not 
to apply, carriers are expected to meet the conditions for relief or 
operate consistent with standard expectations for the Level 2 
environment. The extraordinary circumstances exception in this slot 
usage relief would only apply within the scope of the relief otherwise 
provided by the waiver, carriers should not expect to rely on the 
extraordinary circumstances exception for relief related to domestic 
operations.
    The FAA believes an extension of relief for all international 
operations, through March 26, 2022, is reasonable due to fluctuating 
travel restrictions and ongoing economic and health impacts of COVID-19 
internationally. The proposed relief is expected to provide carriers 
with flexibility during this unprecedented situation and to support the 
long-term viability of international operations at slot-controlled and 
IATA Level 2 airports in the United States.\38\ Continuing relief for 
this additional period is reasonable to mitigate the impacts on 
passenger demand for international air travel resulting from the spread 
of COVID-19 worldwide.
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    \38\ The FAA is responsible to develop plans and policy for the 
use of navigable airspace and assign by regulation or order the use 
of the airspace necessary to ensure the safety of aircraft and the 
efficient use of airspace. See 49 U.S.C. 40103(b)(1). The FAA 
manages slot usage requirements under the authority of 14 CFR 93.227 
at DCA and under the authority of Orders at LGA and JFK. See 
Operating Limitations at John F. Kennedy International Airport, 85 
FR 58258 (Sep. 18, 2020); Operating Limitations at New York 
LaGuardia Airport, 85 FR 58255 (Sep. 18, 2020).
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    As of the date of issuance of this notice, U.S. domestic air travel 
demand and vaccination rates have reached a level that the FAA believes 
no longer necessarily justifies COVID-19-related slot usage relief 
domestically. However, COVID-19 continues to present a highly unusual 
and unpredictable condition for international operations that is beyond 
the control of carriers. Indeed, foreign carriers in many parts of the 
world are prevented from operating to the United States due to 
governmental restrictions resulting from COVID-19. The continuing 
impacts of COVID-19 on global aviation are dramatic and extraordinary, 
with an unprecedented decrease in passenger demand for international 
air travel globally. The ultimate duration and severity of COVID-19 
impacts on passenger demand for international air travel remains 
unclear. Even after the pandemic is contained, impacts on passenger 
demand for international air travel are likely to continue for some 
time.
    If the FAA extends relief for international operations through 
March 26, 2022, as proposed, the FAA expects that foreign slot 
coordinators will provide reciprocal relief to U.S. carriers. To the 
extent that U.S. carriers fly to a foreign carrier's home jurisdiction 
and that home jurisdiction does not offer reciprocal relief to U.S. 
carriers, the FAA may determine not to grant a waiver to that foreign 
carrier. A foreign carrier seeking a waiver may wish to ensure that the 
responsible authority of the foreign carrier's home jurisdiction 
submits a statement by email to [email protected] confirming 
reciprocal treatment of the slot holdings of U.S. carriers.

Invitation for Comment and Submission of Supporting Information

    The FAA seeks views and information regarding this proposal. 
Interested persons are invited to submit comments and supporting 
information to demonstrate why the FAA should or should not finalize 
this decision, and to submit any information relevant to making this 
decision. The FAA has received multiple formal petitions advocating on 
behalf of U.S. carriers that seek continued relief for international 
operations. However, the FAA has not received formal, individualized 
requests from U.S. carriers explaining the need for continued relief 
for international operations despite the early signs of recovery of air 
travel demand in the United States and certain parts of the world and 
the potential for U.S. carriers to utilize slots for operations on 
alternative routes--domestic or international. In particular, U.S. 
carriers are invited to provide individualized responses to the 
following--
     What is the basis with supporting rationale under which a 
U.S. carrier may necessitate continued relief for international 
operations in light of increasing demand for air travel domestically 
and for some international destinations? To what extent do carriers 
anticipate being unable to meet minimum slot usage requirements and/or 
operate consistent with approvals at Level 2 airports?
     What is the particularized relief requested for the Winter 
2021/2022 season? In other words, each U.S. carrier seeking relief for 
international operations this Winter is invited to provide a detailed 
accounting of which operations in its portfolio have historically been 
used for international service versus domestic as well as any 
differences for the upcoming Winter 2021/2022 season, with an 
explanation regarding what extent (such, as percentage) of the 
carriers' international portfolio cannot be repurposed for alternate 
operations?
     What sources of information, other than historic published 
schedules, would U.S. carriers make available to FAA to demonstrate 
intent to use specific slots or approved timing for international 
operations versus domestic?
     To what extent have U.S. carriers relied upon the relief 
provided for the Summer 2021 season for international operations?
    Information submitted to the FAA may be subject to disclosure under 
the Freedom of Information Act. The FAA recognizes that commenters may 
seek to submit business information that is both customarily and 
actually treated as confidential. Persons that submit such confidential 
business information should clearly mark the information as ``PROPIN''. 
The FAA will take the necessary steps to protect properly designated 
information to the extent allowable by law.

[[Page 52120]]

    After receiving and reviewing comments, the FAA anticipates 
subsequently providing notice of its final decision.

    Issued in Washington, DC, on September 16, 2021.
Lorelei Dinges Peter,
Assistant Chief Counsel for Regulations.
Virginia T. Boyle,
Vice President, System Operations Services.
[FR Doc. 2021-20400 Filed 9-16-21; 4:15 pm]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-P