If there is a withdrawal of slots for an auction, the Secretary may not auction more than ten percent for the first auction and five percent for each succeeding auction. Auctions may not take place earlier than two years from each preceding auction. Income from any auctions would finance improved airport infrastructure for the American public. The bill would require the Secretary to prepare a quarterly report for the public which would rank the top and bottom ten domestic routes with regard to their average cost to the passenger. The Secretary would also be required to prepare a quarterly report ranking the large hub airports by market concentration and identify the market share of each airline operating at each of those airports.
Market concentration can be a key indicator of competitive pricing.
The bill would also require the Secretary to issue a study on the ability of and proposals for new entrant air carriers and those with limited access at major hub airports to obtain gates and other facilities at airports on terms substantially equivalent to the terms provided to the major carriers already using airport facilities.