Document ID: DOT-OST-2016-0204-58446
Agency: dot
Document Type: Notice
Title: Exploring Industry Practices on Distribution and Display of Airline Fare, Schedule, and Availability Information
Posted Date: 2020-12-31T05:00Z

[Federal Register Volume 85, Number 251 (Thursday, December 31, 2020)]
[Notices]
[Page 86983]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2020-28927]

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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Office of the Secretary

[Docket No. DOT-OST-2016-0204]

Exploring Industry Practices on Distribution and Display of 
Airline Fare, Schedule, and Availability Information

AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, Department of Transportation.

ACTION: Notice of withdrawal of request for information.

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SUMMARY: The Department of Transportation (``Department'' or ``DOT'') 
is withdrawing a Request for Information (``RFI'') that solicited 
information on whether airline restrictions on the distribution or 
display of airline flight information harm consumers and constitute an 
unfair and deceptive business practice and/or an unfair method of 
competition.

DATES: December 31, 2020.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Kimberly Graber and Blane A. Workie, 
Office of Aviation Consumer Protection, U.S. Department of 
Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Ave. SE, Washington, DC 20590, 202-366-
9342, 202-366-7152 (fax), kimberly.graber@dot.gov or 
blane.workie@dot.gov.
    Electronic Access: You can view and download related documents and 
public comments by going to the website http://www.regulations.gov. 
Enter the docket number DOT-OST-2016-0204 in the search field.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The Department issued the RFI on October 31, 
2016 in response to concerns raised by certain online travel agencies 
(OTAs), metasearch entities that operate flight search tools, and other 
stakeholders involved in the distribution of flight information and 
sale of air transportation, as well as consumer advocates and some 
members of Congress regarding certain practices related to the 
distribution and display of airline fare, schedule, and availability 
information.\1\ The Department has also heard from airlines and other 
members of Congress opposing Departmental action in this area. On 
December 22, 2016, DOT extended the response date of the RFI to March 
31, 2017.\2\ On March 10, 2017, the Department suspended the response 
period while it evaluated next steps.\3\
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    \1\ 81 FR 75481.
    \2\ 81 FR 94021.
    \3\ 82 FR 13375.
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    The issue of airline restrictions on the distribution or display of 
airline flight information on third-party travel websites is a complex 
issue with far-reaching implications for consumers, airlines, ticket 
agents, and the various participants in the distribution chain. The 
Department recognizes that transparency is not only good for consumers 
but also good for competition in the airline industry. However, the 
Department also believes that airlines should be able to choose how and 
where they sell their products so long as they do not engage in unfair 
or deceptive practices. These two goals are not mutually exclusive. The 
Department does not consider its involvement at this time to be 
necessary to prevent unfair, deceptive, or anticompetitive practices. 
As such, the Department has decided to withdraw the RFI.

    Issued in Washington, DC, under authority delegated in 49 CFR 
1.27(n).
Christina G. Aizcorbe,
Deputy General Counsel.
[FR Doc. 2020-28927 Filed 12-30-20; 8:45 am]
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