ACI-NA Commends DOT for Revising Policy on Airport Rates and Charges

July 10, 2008
ACI-NA today commended the Department of Transportation (DOT) for clarifying its 1996 policy statement on airport rates and charges. The revised policy will provide greater flexibility to operators of congested airports.

Washington, D.C. (July 10, 2008) — Airports Council International-North America (ACI-NA) today commended the Department of Transportation (DOT) for clarifying its 1996 policy statement on airport rates and charges. The revised policy will provide greater flexibility to operators of congested airports.

“We’re pleased that Secretary Peters has recognized that airport proprietors are in the best position to manage the use of the facilities they planned, financed, built and currently operate. They can effectively work with the airlines to develop rates and charges that address congestion and passenger inconvenience and take into consideration unique local circumstances,” said ACI-NA President Greg Principato.

DOT’s amendments to its “Policy Regarding the Establishment of Airport Rates and Charges” — published in the Federal Register on June 21, 1996 (“1996 Rates and Charges Policy”) — confirm the ability of airports to implement two-tier pricing. Additionally, congested airports are now permitted to use landing fees to provide incentives to airlines to use the airport at less congested times or to use alternate airports to meet regional air service needs.

ACI-NA and its member airports continue to work with airlines to enhance operational and financial efficiency and respond to capacity reductions. However, airports must also plan for the long-term needs of passengers and expand capacity as appropriate to accommodate the more than 1 billion passengers expected to travel by air in 2015.

ACI-NA and its member airports continue to support the use of new air traffic control technologies and procedures to relieve existing problems of congestion and delay.

ACI-NA believes that DOT’s policy revisions will effectively combine with other policies that recognize the importance of promoting competition and providing service to small communities; these are essential components of any program designed to align demand with capacity at congested airports.

About ACI-NA:

The mission of Airports Council International - North America (ACI-NA) is to advocate policies and provide services that strengthen the ability of air carrier airports to serve their passengers, customers and communities. ACI-NA represents local, regional and state governing bodies that own and operate commercial airports in the United States and Canada. ACI-NA member airports enplane more than 95 percent of the domestic and virtually all the international airline passenger and cargo traffic in North America. Nearly 400 aviation-related businesses are also members of the association, which is the largest of the five worldwide regions of Airports Council International.

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