Airport Alert: DOT Approves Some Airline Service Exemption Requests
April 27, 2020
The Department of Transportation approved requests by United and Frontier to temporarily suspend limited air service to some communities. But the agency rejected their requests to end service to a long list of other points.
H.R. 748, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, which the President signed into law on March 27, provides a total of $58 billion in loans, loan guarantees and grants for passenger and cargo carriers. The bill authorizes DOT to require carriers receiving financial assistance to maintain scheduled air transportation to "the extent reasonable and practicable."
Latest DOT Actions
United: DOT approved United Airline's request to temporarily suspend service to seven communities including four points in Hawaii through September 30, 2020: Hilo, Kona, Lihue and Kahului. The agency also agreed to the airline's request to begin providing service to Fairbanks, AK and Aguadilla, Puerto Rico on July 7 and to Saipan in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands on May 3.
However, DOT rejected United's request to temporarily end service to 14 points including: Sun Valley, ID: Green Bay, WI; Gunnison, CO; Ithaca, NY; Kalamazoo, MI; Santa Fe, NM; and Valparaiso, FL. It also rejected United's request to temporarily suspend seasonal service to: Hilton Head, SC; Myrtle Beach, SC; and Nantucket, MA.
It also denied United's request to temporarily end service to San Juan, PR; Anchorage, AK; Key West, FL and Santa Rosa, CA. The carrier had proposed to begin providing service to those communities beginning in June or July. DOT also deferred action on the airline's request to temporarily suspend service to St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
In its response, DOT said it "believes it struck an appropriate balance between the needs of communities to retain at least minimal connections to the air transportation system during the public heathy emergency, as required by the CARES Act, and the economic needs of the airline industry...."
Frontier: Frontier Airlines requested to suspend service to 33 communities. DOT rejected Frontier's request to temporarily suspend serve to 30 of those communities including Grand Rapids, MI; Sioux Falls, SD; Fargo, ND; Bozeman, MT; and Colorado Springs, CO.
DOT approved Frontier's exemption request for three points: Boston, MA/Providence RI; Charlotte, NC; and Detroit MI. The agency pointed out that all three have "abundant service from other carriers," and would "relieve Frontier from an undue economic and operational burden."
Sun Country: DOT approved Sun Country's request to temporarily suspend service to 27 points and noted that many are large hubs that traditionally have "abundant service." The agency rejected the carrier's plan to end service to Fort Meyers, Florida.
The Department of Transportation approved requests by United and Frontier to temporarily suspend limited air service to some communities. But the agency rejected their requests to end service to a long list of other points.
H.R. 748, the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act, which the President signed into law on March 27, provides a total of $58 billion in loans, loan guarantees and grants for passenger and cargo carriers. The bill authorizes DOT to require carriers receiving financial assistance to maintain scheduled air transportation to "the extent reasonable and practicable."
Latest DOT Actions
United: DOT approved United Airline's request to temporarily suspend service to seven communities including four points in Hawaii through September 30, 2020: Hilo, Kona, Lihue and Kahului. The agency also agreed to the airline's request to begin providing service to Fairbanks, AK and Aguadilla, Puerto Rico on July 7 and to Saipan in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands on May 3.
However, DOT rejected United's request to temporarily end service to 14 points including: Sun Valley, ID: Green Bay, WI; Gunnison, CO; Ithaca, NY; Kalamazoo, MI; Santa Fe, NM; and Valparaiso, FL. It also rejected United's request to temporarily suspend seasonal service to: Hilton Head, SC; Myrtle Beach, SC; and Nantucket, MA.
It also denied United's request to temporarily end service to San Juan, PR; Anchorage, AK; Key West, FL and Santa Rosa, CA. The carrier had proposed to begin providing service to those communities beginning in June or July. DOT also deferred action on the airline's request to temporarily suspend service to St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
In its response, DOT said it "believes it struck an appropriate balance between the needs of communities to retain at least minimal connections to the air transportation system during the public heathy emergency, as required by the CARES Act, and the economic needs of the airline industry...."
Frontier: Frontier Airlines requested to suspend service to 33 communities. DOT rejected Frontier's request to temporarily suspend serve to 30 of those communities including Grand Rapids, MI; Sioux Falls, SD; Fargo, ND; Bozeman, MT; and Colorado Springs, CO.
DOT approved Frontier's exemption request for three points: Boston, MA/Providence RI; Charlotte, NC; and Detroit MI. The agency pointed out that all three have "abundant service from other carriers," and would "relieve Frontier from an undue economic and operational burden."
Sun Country: DOT approved Sun Country's request to temporarily suspend service to 27 points and noted that many are large hubs that traditionally have "abundant service." The agency rejected the carrier's plan to end service to Fort Meyers, Florida.
