6 Small Carriers Awarded Airport Slots

The Transportation Department granted six small airlines takeoff and landing slots at Chicago’s O’Hare and New York’s LaGuardia airports. America West Airlines was given five exemptions--each exemption allows the carrier one arrival or departure--at O’Hare, which the airline plans to use to boost the number of daily Chicago-Phoenix round trips to five. Atlantic Coast Airlines and Trans States Airlines each received 16 O’Hare exemptions, and Simmons Airlines got 16 temporary exemptions there. At LaGuardia, American Trans Air was granted five exemptions and Spirit Airlines got four. “In this 20th year of domestic airline deregulation, we want to make sure that all Americans benefit from the lower fares and better service that most have enjoyed,” Transportation Secretary Rodney Slater said. “These new services will advance that goal.” A 1968 decision by the Federal Aviation Administration limits the number of hourly takeoffs and landings at O’Hare, LaGuardia, New York’s John F. Kennedy Airport and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport. The FAA can grant exemptions at O’Hare and both New York airports for service by new carriers.