Department of Transportation, Bureau of Transportation Statistics, Office of Airline Information
Number 213
Issue Date: 3/14/97
Effective Date: 3/17/97
Section: 241.19-6 217.5

On February 6, 1997, the Department of Transportation issued a final rule (62 FR 6715, February 13, 1997) that effects the period of confidentiality extended to international nonstop segment and on-flight market data reported on Schedules T-100 and T-100(f) by U.S. and foreign air carriers, respectively. The rule also amends the specific data reported by U.S. and foreign carriers. For your information, a copy of the final rule is enclosed and the changes in the period of confidentiality and the reporting requirements are summarized below under separate captions.

CONFIDENTIALITY

Effective March 17, 1997, the Department of Transportation (the Department) will reduce the period of confidential treatment of international nonstop segment and on-flight market data involving a U.S. point and a foreign point. The confidential period will change from three years to immediately following the Department's determination that the data base is complete (but no sooner than six months). U.S. carrier nonstop segment and on-flight market T-100 data between foreign points will remain confidential for three years. Since foreign carriers do not report nonstop segment and on-flight market data between foreign points, it would be unfair to U.S. carriers to release their foreign-to-foreign nonstop segment and on-flight market data.

On March 17, 1997, the Department will release all international nonstop segment and on-flight market data involving a U.S. point and a foreign point through August 1996.

U.S. GROUP III AIR CARRIERS - DATA BY CABIN CONFIGURATION

Effective July 1, 1997, U.S. Group III Air Carriers will not be required to report data by cabin configuration. Instead of reporting available seats, passengers enplaned and passengers transported for each of the three cabin configurations -- first class cabin, middle class cabin and coach class cabin for international operations, all U.S. carriers will only be required to report total available seats, total passengers enplaned and total passengers transported.

FOREIGN AIR CARRIER CAPACITY DATA

Effective July 1, 1997, foreign air carriers will be required to report available seats and available payload weight. The Department has been relying on commercial data sources to determine foreign air capacity data. In 53 FR 46284, 
November 16, 1988, the Department decided to use the commercial data sources on a trial basis. The Department has determined that the commercial data sources are inadequate to fulfill its existing needs.

This directive is issued under authority delegated in 14 CFR 385.27(b).

If you have any questions in this matter please contact Mr. Bernie Stankus on (202) 366-4387.

Timothy E. Carmody
Director

Enclosure (not available online)