ATW Daily News

US DOT proposes reduced flight caps at LaGuardia

Tuesday December 23, 2008

US Dept. of Transportation said it will "work with carriers" to implement voluntary reductions in scheduled operations at New York LaGuardia to 71 per hr. from the current 75 during next year's summer schedule. "We want to use every tool at our disposal to help passengers stuck with this grueling congestion," Secretary Mary Peters said. DOT's plan to conduct slot auctions was put on hold by a US Court of Appeals ruling two weeks ago (ATWOnline, Dec. 10). LGA's ontime arrival rate of 61% in 2007 and 2008 ranked last among the US's 32 major airports, DOT said, adding that lowering the operations cap to 71 could reduce delays up to 41% and save $178 million per year. But it said that "caps alone are not the long-term solution." If approved, the measure would take effect in April and last through Oct. 24.

Separately, Peters called President-elect Barack Obama's nomination of Rep. Ray LaHood (R-Ill.) as her successor (ATWOnline, Dec. 22) an "excellent choice." She cited LaHood's "broad experience and well-known pragmatism."

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