[Federal Register Volume 88, Number 77 (Friday, April 21, 2023)]
[Notices]
[Pages 24660-24661]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2023-08361]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Bureau of Transportation Statistics

[Docket ID Number DOT-OST-2014-0031]


Agency Information Collection: Activity Under OMB Review; Report 
of Traffic and Capacity Statistics--The T-100 System

AGENCY: Bureau of Transportation Statistics (BTS), DOT.

ACTION: Notice.

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SUMMARY: In compliance with the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995, the 
Bureau of Transportation Statistics invites the general public, 
industry and other governmental parties to comment on the continuing 
need for and usefulness of DOT requiring U.S. and foreign air carriers 
to file traffic and capacity data. These reports are used to measure 
air transportation activity to, from, and within the United States.

DATES: Written comments should be submitted by May 22, 2023.
    Comments: Comments should identify the associated OMB approval 
#2138-0040 and Docket ID Number DOT-OST-2014-0031. Persons 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 OMB #2138-0040, Docket--DOT-OST-2014-
0031. The postcard will be date/time stamped and returned.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments identified by DOT Docket ID Number 
DOT-OST-2014-0031 by any of the following methods:
    Federal eRulemaking Portal: Go to http://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the online instructions for submitting comments.
    Mail: Docket Services: U.S. Department of Transportation, 1200 New 
Jersey Avenue SE, West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, Washington, 
DC 20590-0001.
    Hand Delivery or Courier: West Building Ground Floor, Room W12-140, 
1200 New Jersey Avenue SE, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET, Monday through 
Friday, except Federal holidays.
    Fax: 202-366-3383.
    Instructions: Identify docket number, DOT-OST-2014-0031, at the 
beginning of your comments, and send two copies. To receive 
confirmation that DOT received your comments, include a self-addressed 
stamped postcard. Internet users may access all comments received by 
DOT at http://www.regulations.gov. All comments are posted 
electronically without charge or edits, including any personal 
information provided.
    Privacy Act: Anyone is able to search the electronic form of all 
comments received into any of our dockets by the name of the individual 
submitting the comment (or signing the comment, if submitted on behalf 
of an association, business, labor union, etc.). You may review DOT's 
complete Privacy Act Statement in the Federal Register published on 
April 11, 2000 (65 FR 19477-78).
    Docket: For access to the docket to read background documents or 
comments received, go to http://www.regulations.gov or the street 
address listed above. Follow the online instructions for accessing the 
dockets.
    Electronic Access: You may access comments received for this notice 
at http://www.regulations.gov, by searching docket DOT-OST-2014-0031.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jennifer Rodes, Office of Airline 
Information, RTS-42, Room E34-420, OST-R, BTS, 1200 New Jersey Avenue 
SE, Washington, DC 20590-0001, Telephone Number (202) 366-8513, Fax 
Number (202) 366-3383 or Email [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 
    OMB Approval No. 2138-0040.
    Title: Report of Traffic and Capacity Statistics--The T-100 System.
    Form No.: Schedules T-100 and T-100(f).
    Type of Review: Extension of a currently approved collection.
    Respondents: Certificated, commuter and foreign air carriers that 
operate to, from or within the United States.
T100 Form
    Number of Respondents: 119.
    Number of Annual Responses: 1,428.
    Total Burden per Response: 6 hours.
    Total Annual Burden: 8,568 hours.
T100F Form
    Number of Respondents: 190.
    Number of Annual Responses: 2,280.
    Total Burden per Response: 2 hours.
    Total Annual Burden: 4,560 hours.
    Needs and Uses:

Airport Improvement

    The Federal Aviation Administration uses enplanement data for U.S. 
airports to distribute the annual Airport Improvement Program (AIP) 
entitlement funds to eligible primary airports, i.e., airports which 
account for more than 0.01 percent of the total passengers enplaned at 
U.S. airports. Enplanement data contained in Schedule T-100/T-100(f) 
are the sole data base used by the FAA in determining airport funding. 
U.S. airports receiving significant service from foreign air carriers 
operating small aircraft could be receiving less than their fair share 
of AIP entitlement funds. Collecting Schedule T-100(f) data for small 
aircraft operations will enable the FAA to distribute these funds more 
fairly.

Air Carrier Safety

    The FAA uses traffic, operational and capacity data as important 
safety indicators and to prepare the air carrier traffic and operation 
forecasts that are used in developing its budget and staffing plans, 
facility and equipment funding levels, and environmental impact and 
policy studies. The FAA monitors changes in the number of air carrier 
operations as a way to allocate inspection resources and in making 
decisions as to increased safety surveillance. Similarly, airport 
activity statistics are used by the FAA to develop airport profiles and 
establish priorities for airport inspections.

Acquisitions and Mergers

    While the Justice Department has the primary responsibility over 
air carrier acquisitions and mergers, the Department reviews the 
transfer of

[[Page 24661]]

international routes involved to determine if they would substantially 
reduce competition, or determine if the transaction would be 
inconsistent with the public interest. In making these determinations, 
the proposed transaction's effect on competition in the markets served 
by the affected air carriers is analyzed. This analysis includes, among 
other things, a consideration of the volume of traffic and available 
capacity, the flight segments and origins-destinations involved, and 
the existence of entry barriers, such as limited airport slots or gate 
capacity. Also included is a review of the volume of traffic handled by 
each air carrier at specific airports and in specific markets which 
would be affected by the proposed acquisition or merger. The Justice 
Department uses T-100 data in carrying out its responsibilities 
relating to airline competition and consolidation.

Traffic Forecasting

    The FAA uses traffic, operational and capacity data as important 
safety indicators and to prepare the air carrier traffic and operation 
forecasts. These forecasts are used by the FAA, airport managers, the 
airlines and others in the air travel industry as planning and 
budgeting tools.

Airport Capacity Analysis

    The mix of aircraft types are used in determining the practical 
annual capacity (PANCAP) at airports as prescribed in the FAA Advisory 
Circular Airport Capacity Criteria Used in Preparing the National 
Airport Plan. The PANCAP is a safety-related measure of the annual 
airport capacity or level of operations. It is a predictive measure 
which indicates potential capacity problems, delays, and possible 
airport expansions or runway construction needs. If the level of 
operations at an airport exceeds PANCAP significantly, the frequency 
and length of delays will increase, with a potential concurrent risk of 
accidents. Under this program, the FAA develops ways of increasing 
airport capacity at congested airports.

Airline Industry Status Evaluations

    The Department apprizes Congress, the Administration and others of 
the effect major changes or innovations are having on the air 
transportation industry. For this purpose, summary traffic and capacity 
data as well as the detailed segment and market data are essential. 
These data must be timely and inclusive to be relevant for analyzing 
emerging issues and must be based upon uniform and reliable data 
submissions that are consistent with the Department's regulatory 
requirements.

Mail Rates

    The Department is responsible for establishing international and 
intra-Alaska mail rates. International mail rates are set based on 
scheduled operations in four geographic areas: Trans-border, Latin 
America, operations over the Atlantic Ocean and operations over the 
Pacific Ocean. Separate rates are set for mainline and bush Alaskan 
operations. The rates are updated every six months to reflect changes 
in unit costs in each rate-making entity. Traffic and capacity data are 
used in conjunction with cost data to develop the required unit cost 
data.

Essential Air Service

    The Department reassesses service levels at small domestic 
communities to assure that capacity levels are adequate to accommodate 
current demand.

System Planning at Airports

    The FAA is charged with administering a series of grants that are 
designed to accomplish the necessary airport planning for future 
development and growth. These grants are made to state metropolitan and 
regional aviation authorities to fund needed airport systems planning 
work. Individual airport activity statistics, nonstop market data, and 
service segment data are used to prepare airport activity level 
forecasts.

Review of IATA Agreements

    The Department reviews all of the International Air Transport 
Association (IATA) agreements that relate to fares, rates, and rules 
for international air transportation to ensure that the agreements meet 
the public interest criteria. Current and historic summary traffic and 
capacity data, such as revenue ton-miles and available ton-miles, by 
aircraft type, type of service, and length of haul are needed to 
conduct these analyses: to (1) develop the volume elements for 
passenger/cargo cost allocations, (2) evaluate fluctuations in volume 
of scheduled and charter services, (3) assess the competitive impact of 
different operations such as charter versus scheduled, (4) calculate 
load factors by aircraft type, and (5) monitor traffic in specific 
markets.

Foreign Air Carriers Applications

    Foreign air carriers are required to submit applications for 
authority to operate to the United States. In reviewing these 
applications, the Department must find that the requested authority is 
encompassed in a bilateral agreement, other intergovernmental 
understanding, or that granting the application is in the public 
interest. In the latter cases, T-100 data are used in assessing the 
level of benefits that carriers of the applicant's homeland presently 
are receiving from their U.S. operations. These benefits are compared 
and balanced against the benefits U.S. carriers receive from their 
operations to the applicant's homeland.

Air Carrier Fitness

    The Department determines whether U.S. air carriers are and 
continue to be fit, willing and able to conduct air service operations 
without undue risk to passengers and shippers.
    The Department monitors a carrier's load factor, operational, and 
enplanement data to compare with other carriers with similar operating 
characteristics. Carriers that expand operations at a high rate are 
monitored more closely for safety reasons.

International Civil Aviation Organization

    Pursuant to an international agreement, the United States is 
obligated to report certain air carrier data to the International Civil 
Aviation Organization (ICAO). The traffic data supplied to ICAO are 
extracted from the U.S. air carriers' Schedule T-100 submissions.
    The Confidential Information Protection and Statistical Efficiency 
Act of 2002 (44 U.S.C. 3501 note), requires a statistical agency to 
clearly identify information it collects for non-statistical purposes. 
BTS hereby notifies the respondents and the public that BTS uses the 
information it collects under this OMB approval for non-statistical 
purposes including, but not limited to, publication of both 
Respondent's identity and its data, submission of the information to 
agencies outside BTS for review, analysis and possible use in 
regulatory and other administrative matters.

    Issued on April 17, 2023.
William Chadwick, Jr.,
Director, Office of Airline Information, Bureau of Transportation 
Statistics, U.S. Department of Transportation, Washington, DC.
[FR Doc. 2023-08361 Filed 4-20-23; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-9X-P