FAA to Delay First Slot Auction for Newark

The Federal Aviation Administration is delaying a slot auction planned for next week at the Newark
airport.
That comes after it ran into fierce opposition from airlines and the New York-area airports.
The airlines had asked the FAA’s Office of Dispute Resolution for Acquisition halt the auction planned for Wednesday for two slots at Newark’s Liberty Airport.
They would have been the first of several auctions the FAA says are needed to reduce congestion and increase competition at the three airports run by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.
Yesterday’s ruling doesn’t address the merits of airline opposition to the auction, but says there’s no harm in waiting.
The FAA says the ruling by its dispute resolution branch is a “disappointing delay.”
(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press.  All Rights Reserved.)