ost972984

OST-97-2984

American Trans Air, Inc. (Exemption, Chicago Midway/St. Petersburg/Sarasota-New York LaGuardia)

OST-97-2984 | October 9, 1997

Application for an Exemption

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The absence of nonstop service in the LaGuardia-Midway, LaGuardia-Sarasota and LaGuardia-St. Petersburg markets leaves no question that ATA's first nonstop service in each of these markets would be a dramatic improvement over the high fare, connecting and single-plane service which these passengers are now forced to endure. ATA, with its established low-fare track record, is ideally suited to provide low-fare nonstop service to LaGuardia from these three convenient airports. The service will not likely be provided -- or even considered -- by other carriers and would most certainly be in the public interest.

Service List

Counsel: ATA, Brian Hunt, 317-240-7006

American Trans Air, Inc. (High Density Rule, Sarasota-New York LaGuardia)

OST-97-2984 | October 17, 1997

Answer of The Sarasota Manatee Airport Authority

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Sarasota Bradenton International Airport has lost two major carriers since 1994 (American Airlines and United Airlines). TWA recently announced cessation of service from Sarasota Bradenton International Airport. Intersession by the community and the Airport convinced TWA to reverse that decision, however, the service level was reduced from four flights per day to one flight per day. ATA's proposal to launch nonstop seasonal service to New York's LaGuardia Airport will receive the active support of the Sarasota-Bradenton community. The New York area is undeniably Sarasota-Bradenton's largest origin destination market, generating 65,000 passengers per year. When combined with Newark, the New York area generates nearly 165,000 passengers per year. SMAA estimates we have an additional 20% to Tampa International. As a result of the scarcity of nonstop service, the community will be forced to use connecting services or endure long drives to other Florida gateways to meet their air service needs.

By: Frederick Piccolo, Executive Director

America West Airlines, Inc. / Simmons Airlines, Inc. / American Trans Air, Inc. (Exemptions, High Density Rule at New York LaGuardia and Chicago O'Hare)

OST-97-2970 | OST-97-2985 | OST-97-2984 | October 21, 1997

Answer of Trans World Airlines

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The feeding frenzy of airlines enticed by DOT promises of a liberalized approach to the grant of slot exemptions has now escalated dramatically. Three more carriers, including two majors or their affiliates, have now requested a total of 83 new slots at LaGuardia and O'Hare Airports. American (Simmons) makes no pretense that it is a new entrant and proposes to use valuable slots for commuter equipment. America West and American Trans Air (ATA) propose to add service primarily in large markets that are already well served. In considering these applications, the Department must keep in mind the purpose of slot rules -- to limit runway congestion and avoid the imposition of delay costs on airlines and consumers. Grant of these applications would benefit these carriers but impose real economic costs on other airlines and consumers. TWA hereby answers' and requests that the applications be denied.

Counsel: TWA and Richard Fahy, 202-457-4764, rfahy@ibm.net

American Trans Air, Inc. (Exemption, High Density Rule, New York LaGuardia)

OST-97-2984 | November 5, 1997

Reply of American Trans Air

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Any alleged "delay costs" which might be imposed on consumers due to airport congestion are trivial when compared to the convenience of nonstop service for thousands of passengers who would utilize ATA's LaGuardia services. If there was any doubt that "flight delays and/or congestion" concerns were hardly determinative, that doubt was laid to rest in the DOT's recent order recognizing that improvement in airline competition could offset such concerns.

Motion for Leave to File Out of Time

Counsel: American Trans Air and Squire Sanders, Marshall Sinick, 202-626-6651

American Trans Air, Inc. (Exmeption, High Density Rule, LaGuardia)

OST-97-2984 | November 21, 1997

Motion of St. Petersburg-Clearwater Intl Airport and Pinellas County to File a Late-Filed Document

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Surprisingly, although one million passengers annually use St. Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport on scheduled and charter commercial air carriers to a variety of domestic and international destinations, there is at present no scheduled air carrier service between St. Petersburg-Clearwater International Airport and New York LaGuardia Airport, despite diligent efforts by this airport and community to obtain such direct, non-stop air service from other scheduled air carriers currently having slots at LaGuardia Airport. Those air carriers having a LaGuardia Airport slot oligopoly have steadfastly and unreasonably refused our fervent entreaties to offer service in the New York LaGuardia and St. Petersburg-Clearwater market, thereby inconveniencing significant numbers of travelers by requiring them to use the more remote and distantly located Tampa International Airport, where there is a dearth of direct, non-stop service.

By: James Howes, Airport Director

Editor's Note: It was your Editor who alerted the Docket Section of the above missing Answer when American Trans Air referred to the filing.

American Trans Air, Inc. (Exemption, High Density Rule, New York LaGuardia)

OST-97-2984 | December 4, 1997

Letter from Ralph Capparelli, Illinois House of Representatives, in Support

During the past year, more than 2.5 million passengers flew between Chicago and New York. Clearly, it is a significant market, and we believe that ATA's very competitive fares will create a very favorable situation for the Chicago-New York traveler.

Applications of ACCESSAIR HOLDINGS, INC. / AMERICAN TRANS AIR, INC. / AMERICA WEST AIRLINES, INC. / COLGAN AIR, INC. / SPIRIT AIRLINES, INC. / PAN AMERICAN WORLD AIRWAYS, INC. and CARNIVAL AIRLINES, INC. / THE PEOPLE AND BUSINESSES OF BLOOMINGTON-NORMAL, IL; MOLINE-QUAD CITIES, IL; TOLEDO, OH; AND AKRON/CANTON, OH

Order 98-4-22 | OST-97-3087 | OST-97-2984 | OST-97-2970 | OST-97-3086 | OST-97-2870 | OST-97-2932 | OST-97-2885 | OST-97-2557 | Issued and Served April 21, 1998

ORDER GRANTING AND DENYING APPLICATIONS FOR SLOT EXEMPTIONS AT NEW YORK'S LAGUARDIA AND JOHN F. KENNEDY INTERNATIONAL AIRPORTS

After considering applications for exemptions from 14 CFR Part 93, Subparts K and S, for slots at New York's LaGuardia and John F. Kennedy (JFK) Airports, the Department has decided to grant five slot exemptions to American Trans Air, Inc. (ATA) for nonstop service in the Chicago (Midway)-LaGuardia market; and four slot exemptions to Spirit Airlines, Inc. (Spirit) for nonstop service in the Melbourne, Florida-LaGuardia market. We find that granting these exemptions is in the public interest and meets the statutory "exceptional circumstances" test. Grant of these exemptions is conditioned on their being used solely for nonstop service in the city-pair markets designated in the carriers' applications. The Department has also decided to deny the remainder of ATA’s and Spirit's applications as well as the applications of AccessAir Holdings, Inc., America West Airlines, Inc., Colgan Air, Inc., and the joint application of Pan American World Airways, Inc. and Carnival Air Lines, Inc. Further, we deny the petition for reconsideration of AirTran Airways' application filed by the People and Businesses of Bloomington-Normal, IL; Moline-Quad Cities, IL; Toledo, OH; and Akron-Canton, OH. In reaching our decision on all of these requests we were committed, among other guidelines, to avoiding significant congestion and environmental problems. Primarily for these reasons, we are granting only a limited number of exemptions.

By: Charles Hunnicutt