FAA again extends slot-use waiver for international flights: Travel Weekly

The relaxed rules for international schedules have been extended by the FAA. The photo was taken at the San Francisco International Airport.

Federal officials are giving big airlines more time to keep their coveted takeoff and landing rights for international flights at busy airports in New York City and Washington, D.C.

The move by the FAA will allow leading airlines to keep their dominant positions at major airports.

Normally, airlines that don't use their assigned rights at airports in New York and Reagan National Airport lose them. The rule was nixed in March 2020 when airlines cut flights due to the Pandemic.

The slot-use waiver has been extended by the FAA four times. The decision to extend the waiver for international flights is scheduled to be published in the Federal Register.

The evolving and highly unpredictable situation around COVID-19 was cited by the agency.

The FAA will relax rules regarding flight schedules at Newark Liberty, Chicago O'Hare, Los Angeles International and San Francisco International.

The trade group for large U.S. airlines supported the waivers. Smaller airlines say that these measures make it harder for them to grow at the busiest airports.

As the U.S. air travel edges closer to pre-pandemic levels, the FAA has taken action.

More than 2 million people per day passed through airport security in March, a decline from the same month in 2019. Airlines for America says international travel to and from the U.S. is down 42%.

The FAA has again extended the international slot use-waiver.