Continental Airlines stated that it opposes the U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) plan to auction rights to conduct additional flight operations at Newark Liberty International Airport.
Newark, N.J. – The proposed auction, announced today by the DOT, would add flight operations at times during which the airport is already experiencing significant delays. The DOT’s attempt to add more flights at one of the nation’s most congested and delayed airports is baffling, given the increased delays at Newark Liberty and the FAA’s actions earlier this year to place caps on flight operations at Newark Liberty.
„DOT should not be taking action to increase flights at Newark Liberty when congestion there has continued to worsen, despite the imposition of caps on flight operations,“ said a Continental spokesperson. „Moreover, DOT doesn’t have the legal authority to conduct auctions, which will get tied up in litigation by a broad spectrum of opponents who are focused on solving congestion.“
In response to DOT’s plan to conduct auctions, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey recently issued a proposed order prohibiting any flights at the major New York/New Jersey airports pursuant to permission granted through a federal sale or auction of flight operation authority, conducted without authorization of Congress. The Port Authority stated that such auctions would have a material adverse effect on airport operations, airline service, ticket prices, destinations served, customer service, consumer choice, and overall passenger demand, and would be unlawful absent Congressional authorization.
Newark Liberty has the potential to operate at higher volumes, but only if the Administration and Congress can make meaningful progress in funding and implementing new-technology air traffic control systems.
Continental will continue to work with the DOT, the FAA, the Port Authority and all the other parties who have a stake in this process to improve the capacity and reduce the congestion of Newark Liberty and the New York airspace.
