The US Department of Transportation (DOT) has turned down a request from the major US airlines to let them end services to China and other places.
Alaska Airlines, American Airlines, Continental Airlines, Delta, Northwest, United and US Airways had applied to the DOT in June for the ability to end services without seeking approval on routes, such as those from the United States to China. At the moment, if airlines choose to end services, they lose their rights to operate on the routes.
In their DOT application, the airlines said it needed the rules to be relaxed ‘in the light of the extraordinary difficulties facing airlines today as a result of the unprecedented increase in fuel prices and adverse economic conditions’.
The Department of Transportation said: ‘The public interest would be better served by continuing to address temporary dormancy waiver requests on an individual basis.’ And also said no.
‘Temporary dormancy’ appears to be the airline equivalent of taking a nap.
Source: Business Travel World
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