The US Department of Transportation today reassigned16 peak-hour runway timings, aka slots, previously operated by Southwest Airlines at Newark-Liberty International Airport to Spirit Airlines.
This comes as as weary people attempt to resume some sort of normal post-covid routines after the disastrous Trump mis-administration that ignored the deadly effects of a corona virus that is still mutating. Let the finger pointing start or rather continue. That said, AutoInformed notes once again that airlines are in effect a free international marketing tool that promotes the use of automobiles and automobility.
Today’s action comes as airline travel continues with deficient operating practices caused by extreme cutbacks deemed necessary for survival during the pandemic when travelers evaporated or died. This ongoing demonstration of the need for sensible Federal regulation on interstate commerce despite GOP hostility going back – recently – to the disastrous Reagan Administration, which fired overworked, under-equipped air traffic controllers who needed union representation. It now appears that all the workers in the airline sector are dealing with similar problems.
Newark is an IATA Level 2 schedule facilitated airport. “DOT expects all operators there to continue to work cooperatively with the Federal Aviation Administration to ensure scheduled operations do not exceed the airport’s targeted scheduling limits,” it said.
The 16 timings just reassigned were originally operated by Southwest Airlines in 2010 when it acquired them as part of a “Department of Justice competition remedy” because of the United-Continental merger. The Department received applications from Spirit and JetBlue Airways for all 16 timings, and from Alaska Airlines for four of the timings.
“After reviewing the applications against the decisional (sic) criteria announced by the Department, the Department found that Spirit will best be able to provide competition with all 16 timings, consistent with the Department of Justice’s original competition remedy, and is most likely to provide the lowest fares to the most consumers,” DOT claimed.
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn.
He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe.
Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap.
AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks.
Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.
US DOT Gives Spirit Slots at Newark as Airlines Bilk Flyers
This comes as as weary people attempt to resume some sort of normal post-covid routines after the disastrous Trump mis-administration that ignored the deadly effects of a corona virus that is still mutating. Let the finger pointing start or rather continue. That said, AutoInformed notes once again that airlines are in effect a free international marketing tool that promotes the use of automobiles and automobility.
Today’s action comes as airline travel continues with deficient operating practices caused by extreme cutbacks deemed necessary for survival during the pandemic when travelers evaporated or died. This ongoing demonstration of the need for sensible Federal regulation on interstate commerce despite GOP hostility going back – recently – to the disastrous Reagan Administration, which fired overworked, under-equipped air traffic controllers who needed union representation. It now appears that all the workers in the airline sector are dealing with similar problems.
Newark is an IATA Level 2 schedule facilitated airport. “DOT expects all operators there to continue to work cooperatively with the Federal Aviation Administration to ensure scheduled operations do not exceed the airport’s targeted scheduling limits,” it said.
The 16 timings just reassigned were originally operated by Southwest Airlines in 2010 when it acquired them as part of a “Department of Justice competition remedy” because of the United-Continental merger. The Department received applications from Spirit and JetBlue Airways for all 16 timings, and from Alaska Airlines for four of the timings.
“After reviewing the applications against the decisional (sic) criteria announced by the Department, the Department found that Spirit will best be able to provide competition with all 16 timings, consistent with the Department of Justice’s original competition remedy, and is most likely to provide the lowest fares to the most consumers,” DOT claimed.
About Ken Zino
Ken Zino, editor and publisher of AutoInformed, is a versatile auto industry participant with global experience spanning decades in print and broadcast journalism, as well as social media. He has automobile testing, marketing, public relations and communications experience. He is past president of The International Motor Press Assn, the Detroit Press Club, founding member and first President of the Automotive Press Assn. He is a member of APA, IMPA and the Midwest Automotive Press Assn. He also brings an historical perspective while citing their contemporary relevance of the work of legendary auto writers such as Ken Purdy, Jim Dunne or Jerry Flint, or writers such as Red Smith, Mark Twain, Thomas Jefferson – all to bring perspective to a chaotic automotive universe. Above all, decades after he first drove a car, Zino still revels in the sound of the exhaust as the throttle is blipped during a downshift and the driver’s rush that occurs when the entry, apex and exit points of a turn are smoothly and swiftly crossed. It’s the beginning of a perfect lap. AutoInformed has an editorial philosophy that loves transportation machines of all kinds while promoting critical thinking about the future use of cars and trucks. Zino builds AutoInformed from his background in automotive journalism starting at Hearst Publishing in New York City on Motor and MotorTech Magazines and car testing where he reviewed hundreds of vehicles in his decade-long stint as the Detroit Bureau Chief of Road & Track magazine. Zino has also worked in Europe, and Asia – now the largest automotive market in the world with China at its center.