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New Routes

DOT to Airlines: Sorry, Losers

July 7, 2008 at 5:00 PM | 0 Comments

In late 2007 and into 2008, a group of airlines petitioned the Department of Transportation for permission to fly to Colombia--a move they had to take because flights there are regulated by treaty. But thanks to recent astronomical price increases on jet fuel, some carriers no longer want to go there--at least for now. So last month, a bunch of airlines filed with the DOT asking if they could keep their slots while delaying their entry into the US-Colombia market. (That's called a dormancy waiver.)

With so many airlines asking, it seemed like the DOT would grant the waiver, but it didn't. The agency's decision basically says "Sorry. Start flying or loose your slots." The DOT will continue to evaluate stuff like this on a case-by-case basis, but on this big one, the department made a pro-consumer call.

Spirit Airlines, which broke industry ranks and filed with the DOT against the waiver, will undoubtedly release some sort of tasteless fare sale soon to celebrate the finding.

Related Stories:
· DOT Rejects Blanket Dormancy Waiver [Travel Industry]
· JetBlue Travel: Colombia's out but Spanish Is in [Jaunted]
· New Routes: Open Skies over Colombia [Jaunted]

[Photo of El Dorado International Airport in Bogotá: aguno]