Administration looks to ease summer air travel

The Bush administration announced new rules designed to reduce congestion at three New York-area airports and to provide passengers more information about flight delays and travel costs.

One new rule requires airlines to release more information about how long aircraft are delayed after leaving the gate. Airlines and travel agents will also now be required to disclose on the Internet and in print ads the fees for checking a second bag.

{mosads}The congestion rules relate to airports only in the New York area, but administration officials contend the changes would have a “ripple effect” across the country given the number of flights in and out of the region.

The Transportation Department also placed new caps on the three airports. In order to maintain market competition in the area, however, the department also said it would auction off the number of slots for takeoffs and landings at JFK, LaGuardia and Newark airports.

The airlines sharply criticized the new proposal.

“These ill-conceived and unlawful proposals are driven by ideology and will not reduce congestion or flight delays,” said James May, president and CEO of the Air Transport Association.

May said the administration should instead focus on expanding “airspace infrastructure.”

Congress has been unable to find agreement on a bill that would reauthorize the Federal Aviation Administration. The bill includes money to expand airport runways and to pay for the NextGen system, an effort to switch from the current ground-based radar system to one that is space-based.