FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

ACI-NA Files Comments Opposing Newark Slot Auction, Supporting Port Authority of New York & New Jersey

Washington, D.C. (August 18, 2008)- Airports Council International-North America (ACI-NA) filed comments today on behalf of its 366 member airports opposing the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) proposal to auction two slots (one round trip flight) at Newark Liberty International Airport on September 3. ACI-NA also filed comments supporting the concerns of the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey (PANYNJ) in their “Proposed Action”.

In its comments, ACI-NA reiterated that FAA should defer to local initiatives to resolve problems of congestion and delay whenever such methods are consistent with the safe and efficient use of the airspace and otherwise comply with applicable law. (ACI-NA's filing opposing slot auction plan and ACI-NA's filing on Proposed Action)

“FAA unlawfully seeks to usurp the proprietary right of the Port Authority of New York & New Jersey to control how its facilities are used,” said ACI-NA President Greg Principato. “Instead of pursuing its misconceived ‘slot auction’ proposal, the FAA should work collaboratively with the Port Authority and the air carriers to develop and implement a reasonable and effective program of congestion management.”

Airports Council International - North America represents local, regional and state governing bodies that own and operate commercial airports in the United States and Canada. ACI-NA member airports enplane more than 95 percent of the domestic and virtually all the international airline passenger and cargo traffic in North America.  Almost 400 aviation-related businesses are also members of the association, which is the largest of the five worldwide regions of Airports Council International.

CONTACT:
Victoria Houghton, vhoughton@aci-na.org 202-861-8080
Eileen Denne, edenne@aci-na.org 202-293-4537