"Air travellers may face bumpy ride under U.S. airport proposal"

Saturday, June 14, 2008

Air travellers may face bumpy ride under U.S. airport proposal
Canada - CBC News

 
Getting a direct flight from Nova Scotia to the United States may soon
become much more difficult and expensive.

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration is proposing a new landing fee
targeted specifically at regional carriers and their smaller planes.

By reducing the number of small planes that fly into big U.S. airports, the
FAA hopes to reduce congestion at its busiest airports during peak times.

This could pose a problem for airports like Halifax Robert L. Stanfield
International Airport, which depend on these same small, regional carriers.

"Our concern is that if airlines are looking at paying extra to fly in at
busy times, they may adjust their schedules, which would hurt some
connection times. Or they may reduce the schedule, which of course reduces
access for passengers," said Peter Spurway, spokesman for the Halifax
airport.

The airport authority is one of dozens of groups opposed to the plan.

Earlier this year, Nova Scotia Transportation Minister Murray Scott wrote to
the U.S. Department of Transportation to urge it to reconsider the plan.

Scott worries the proposal means higher fares and a reduction in service, a
fear shared by the association representing Air Canada Jazz.

Air Canada goes even further, warning that it has grave concerns the
proposal violates the Canada-U.S. "open skies" agreement. It blames
congestion on U.S. carriers, not foreign ones.

A final decision from the U.S. Department of Transportation could come at
any time.

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