press release
BTC Calls For Frequencies Transfer to Meet Capital-to-Capital Objective
RADNOR PA., October 19, 2006–The Business Travel Coalition today wrote to U.S. Secretary of Transportation Mary Peters after reviewing the rebuttal submissions of competing airlines in the China route case and made several observations and recommendations to improve competition and service in the US-China commercial aviation market.
Among points BTC made to the Secretary:
1. The US-China marketplace needs more competition, not more concentration.
2. Awarding United Airlines more US-to-China frequencies would be analogous to the UK government handing British Airways more slots at London Heathrow.
3. If United is genuine in its public policy proclamation that air service between Washington and Beijing is of the most vital national interest, then it should be expected to redeploy frequencies to serve that market.
4. United’s application has some credibility challenges as evidenced in past China proceedings. Reference March 30, 2001 Aviation Daily article: United’s China Service Switch Point’s To Carrier’s Honesty.
5. To the extent DOT sees merit in United’s capital-to-capital argument it should require the airline, as part of the current proceeding, to use some of its existing frequencies to make such service a reality.