DOT Deadline on LGA Slots

As part of a plan to stave off gridlock at LaGuardia next summer, the Department of Transportation issued a February 2 deadline yesterday for airlines to tell the department which flights they will voluntarily give up in order to reduce congestion at the airport. DOT is attempting to reduce the hourly cap on flight operations at LaGuardia from 75 to 71. And the Air Transport Association immediately shot back that it would be better if the government concentrated on making the long-awaited ATC improvements rather than artificially constraining business.
"While the DOT announcement regarding voluntary slot reductions at LaGuardia was expected, ATA has long advocated that the most meaningful way to reduce delays is to fully implement operational and technological improvements - not to artificially constrain demand by measures such as slot reductions and auctions - and to accelerate development and deployment of technology and systems modernization. These measures will reduce flight delays and unnecessary fuel burn/emissions, and open up access to New York area airports."