Ancillary Airline Passenger Revenues, 58777-58778 [2017-26708]
Download as PDF
<![CDATA[
Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 239 / Thursday, December 14, 2017 / Proposed Rules
changes to procedures or tests identified as
RC require approval of an AMOC.
(n) Related Information
(1) Refer to Mandatory Continuing
Airworthiness Information (MCAI) EASA
Airworthiness Directive 2017–0098, dated
June 7, 2017, for related information. This
MCAI may be found in the AD docket on the
internet at https://www.regulations.gov by
searching for and locating Docket No. FAA–
2017–1100.
(2) For more information about this AD,
contact Sanjay Ralhan, Aerospace Engineer,
International Section, Transport Standards
Branch, FAA, 1601 Lind Avenue SW,
Renton, WA 98057–3356; telephone 425–
227–1405; fax 425–227–1149.
(3) For service information identified in
this AD, contact Airbus, Airworthiness
Office—EIAS, 1 Rond Point Maurice
Bellonte, 31707 Blagnac Cedex, France;
telephone +33 5 61 93 36 96; fax +33 5 61
93 44 51; email account.airworth-eas@
airbus.com; Internet https://www.airbus.com.
You may view this service information at the
FAA, Transport Standards Branch, 1601 Lind
Avenue SW, Renton, WA. For information on
the availability of this material at the FAA,
call 425–227–1221.
Issued in Renton, Washington, on
November 29, 2017.
Jeffrey E. Duven,
Director, System Oversight Division, Aircraft
Certification Service.
[FR Doc. 2017–26362 Filed 12–13–17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–13–P
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Office of the Secretary
14 CFR Part 241
Amendatory instructions 3
through 6 of the proposed rule
published July 15, 2011 (76 FR 41726),
are withdrawn as of December 14, 2017.
ADDRESSES: Electronic Access: You can
view and download related documents
and public comments by going to the
website https://www.regulations.gov.
Enter the docket number DOT–RITA–
2011–0001 in the search field.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Zeenat Iqbal and Blane A. Workie,
Office of Aviation Enforcement and
Proceedings, 1200 New Jersey SE, Room
W96–414, Washington, DC 20590, (202)
366–9893, zeenat.iqbal@dot.gov (email).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
DATES:
Background
On July 7, 2011, the Office of the
Secretary issued a notice of proposed
rulemaking (NPRM) proposing to collect
detailed information about ancillary fees
paid by airline consumers to determine
the total amount of fees carriers collect
through the a la carte pricing approach
for optional services related to air
transportation. The Department also
proposed to alter its matrix for
collecting and publishing data on
mishandled baggage and to collect
information regarding damage, delay or
loss of wheelchairs and scooters
transported in the aircraft cargo
compartment. The final rule relating to
reporting of data for mishandled
baggage and wheelchairs (2104–AE41)
was issued on November 2, 2016 (81 FR
76300). We are withdrawing the other
topic covered in the proposed rule, the
reporting of airline fee revenue.
[Docket No. RITA–2011–0001]
The NPRM
RIN 2105–AE31
In the NPRM, the Department
proposed to create two stand-alone
reporting forms, designated P–9 and P–
9.1, to capture ancillary revenues.
Specifically, air carriers with annual
reporting revenue of $20 million or
more would be required to submit the
P–9 form quarterly and air carriers with
annual reporting revenue below $20
million would be required to submit the
form P–9.1 on a semiannual basis. The
information required by the two
proposed schedules was identical; they
differed only in the required reporting
frequency. The NPRM also proposed to
define ancillary revenues as those
charges paid by airline passengers that
are not included in the standard ticket
fare. The Department solicited
comments on which items should be
specifically identified as ancillary
revenues, and proposed to collect data
on 19 separate charges for optional
services. The categories included: (1)
Booking fees, (2) priority check-in and
Ancillary Airline Passenger Revenues
Office of the Secretary,
Department of Transportation.
ACTION: Proposed rule; withdrawal.
AGENCY:
The Department of
Transportation (the Department) is
withdrawing a notice of proposed
rulemaking (NPRM) published on July
15, 2011 that proposed to collect
detailed revenue information regarding
airline imposed fees from those air
carriers meeting the definition of a large
certificated air carrier. We are
withdrawing this rulemaking in light of
the comments we received. The
withdrawal of this rulemaking
corresponds with the Department’s and
Administration’s priorities and is
consistent with the Executive Order
13771, Reducing Regulation and
Controlling Regulatory Costs, January
30, 2017.
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with PROPOSALS
SUMMARY:
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:01 Dec 13, 2017
Jkt 244001
PO 00000
Frm 00014
Fmt 4702
Sfmt 4702
58777
security screening, (3) baggage, (4) inflight medical equipment, (5) in-flight
entertainment/internet access, (6) sleep
sets, (7) in-flight food/non-alcoholic
drinks, (8) alcoholic drinks, (9) pets,
(10) seating assignments, (11)
reservation cancellation and change
fees; (12) charges for lost ticket; (13)
unaccompanied minor/passenger
assistance fee; (14) frequent flyer points/
points acceleration; (15) commissions
on travel packages; (16) travel
insurance; (17) duty-free and retail
sales; (18) one-time access to lounges
and (19) other.
Comments Received
In response to the 2011 NPRM, the
Department received approximately 280
comments from airlines, airports, trade
associations, unions, consumer groups
and private citizens who use this data.
There was wide support among
consumers and consumer rights groups
for the proposed rule’s reporting
requirements. Consumers and consumer
rights groups, as well as ACI–NA and
Southwest Airlines, commented that the
reporting requirement would bring the
benefits of both increased transparency
and improved data corroboration
regarding the impact of ancillary fees on
the Airport and Airway Trust Fund.
On the other hand, most airlines and
industry organizations commented that
the proposed rule will not benefit the
public because the Department has not
demonstrated a need for this
information. They asserted that the rule
will not increase the transparency of
pricing for airline revenues. Airlines
also commented that if the justification
for this rule is to tax ancillary revenues,
the Department must state that
justification. In addition, several airlines
and industry groups suggested that the
Department underestimated the
proposed rule’s economic burden on
industry.
With regard to the proposed 19
categories, industry groups, consumer
groups and airlines commented that the
Department failed to justify the
proposed categories and suggested
various changes to the list of 19 charges
for which air carriers would have to
report revenues under the proposed
rule. Carriers also expressed concern
that the proposed reporting
requirements would require carriers to
reveal proprietary information to their
competitors. Some carriers suggested
that there is no correlation between a
carrier’s disclosure of itemized aggregate
revenue data and consumer concerns
regarding fare transparency. Southwest
Airlines, which supported the
Department’s stated goal of making
ticket pricing more transparent for
E:\FR\FM\14DEP1.SGM
14DEP1
58778
Federal Register / Vol. 82, No. 239 / Thursday, December 14, 2017 / Proposed Rules
consumers, also urged the Department
to reduce the number of categories by
half.
Reason for Withdrawal
The purpose of this rulemaking was to
make airline pricing more transparent to
consumers and airline analysts.
Although we believe there would be
benefits of collecting and publishing the
proposed aviation data, the Department
also takes seriously industry concerns
about the potential burden of this rule.
The Department is withdrawing this
rulemaking proposal. The withdrawal of
this rulemaking corresponds with the
Department’s and Administration’s
priorities and is consistent with the
Executive Order 13771, Reducing
Regulation and Controlling Regulatory
Costs, January 30, 2017.
Issued in Washington, DC, on December 5,
2017.
Elaine L. Chao,
Secretary of Transportation.
[FR Doc. 2017–26708 Filed 12–13–17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE P
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Office of the Secretary
14 CFR Part 399
[Docket No. DOT–OST–2017–0007]
RIN 2105–AE56
Transparency of Airline Ancillary
Service Fees
Office of the Secretary (OST),
U.S. Department of Transportation
(DOT).
ACTION: Notice of withdrawal of
proposed rulemaking.
AGENCY:
The Department is
withdrawing the supplemental notice of
proposed rulemaking (SNPRM) on
Transparency of Airline Ancillary
Service Fees issued on January 9, 2017.
The SNPRM proposed to require air
carriers, foreign air carriers, and ticket
agents to clearly disclose to consumers
at all points of sale customer-specific fee
information, or itinerary-specific
information if a customer elects not to
provide customer-specific information,
for a first checked bag, a second checked
bag, and one carry-on bag wherever fare
and schedule information is provided to
consumers. The withdrawal of this
rulemaking corresponds with the
Department’s and Administration’s
priorities and is consistent with
Executive Order 13771, Reducing
Regulation and Controlling Regulatory
Costs, January 30, 2017.
sradovich on DSK3GMQ082PROD with PROPOSALS
SUMMARY:
VerDate Sep<11>2014
17:01 Dec 13, 2017
Jkt 244001
December 14, 2017.
You may send comments by
sending an email to Kimberly Graber
(kimberly.graber@dot.gov) or Blane A.
Workie (blane.workie@dot.gov). Please
include RIN 2105–AE56 in the subject
line of the message.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Kimberly Graber or Blane A. Workie,
Office of the Assistant General Counsel
for Aviation Enforcement and
Proceedings, U.S. Department of
Transportation, 1200 New Jersey Ave.
SE, Washington, DC 20590, 202–366–
9342 (phone), kimberly.graber@dot.gov
or blane.workie@dot.gov (email).
Electronic Access: Docket: For access
to the docket to read background
documents and comments received, go
to the street address listed above or visit
https://www.regulations.gov. Enter the
docket number DOT–OST–2017–0007
in the search field.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On
January 9, 2017, the Department issued
an SNPRM that proposed to require air
carriers, foreign air carriers, and ticket
agents to clearly disclose to consumers
at all points of sale customer-specific fee
information, or itinerary-specific
information if a customer elects not to
provide customer-specific information,
for a first checked bag, a second checked
bag, and one carry-on bag wherever fare
and schedule information is provided to
consumers (see 82 FR 7536, Jan. 19,
2017). The SNPRM further proposed to
require airlines to provide useable,
current, and accurate (but not
transactable) baggage fee information to
all ticket agents that receive and
distribute the airline’s fare and schedule
information, including Global
Distribution Systems and metasearch
entities. If an airline or ticket agent has
a website that markets to U.S.
consumers, the SNPRM proposed to
require the baggage fee information to be
disclosed at the first point in a search
process where a fare is listed in
connection with a specific flight
itinerary, adjacent to the fare. The
SNPRM also proposed to permit airlines
and ticket agents to allow customers to
opt-out of receiving the baggage fee
information when using their websites.
On March 2, 2017, the Department
suspended the comment period, which
had been scheduled to close on March
20, 2017. The suspension of the
comment period was to allow the
President’s appointees the opportunity
to review and consider this action. After
a careful review, the Department has
determined to withdraw the SNPRM.
The Department is committed to
protecting consumers from hidden fees
and to ensuring transparency. However,
DATES:
ADDRESSES:
PO 00000
Frm 00015
Fmt 4702
Sfmt 4702
we do not believe that Departmental
action is necessary to meet this objective
at this time. The Department’s existing
regulations already provide consumers
some information regarding fees for
ancillary services. The withdrawal
corresponds with the Department’s and
Administration’s priorities and is
consistent with the Executive Order
13771, Reducing Regulation and
Controlling Regulatory Costs, January
30, 2017.
Issued on 5th day of December 2017 in
Washington, DC.
Elaine L. Chao,
Secretary of Transportation.
[FR Doc. 2017–26707 Filed 12–13–17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910–9X–P
DEPARTMENT OF STATE
22 CFR Parts 50 and 51
[Public Notice 9804]
RIN 1400–AD54
Passports
Department of State.
Proposed rule.
AGENCY:
ACTION:
This proposed rule provides
various changes and updates to the
Department of State passport rules. The
proposed rule incorporates statutory
passport denial and revocation
requirements for certain convicted sex
offenders. It notes that, notwithstanding
the legal bases for denial or revocation
of a passport, the Department may issue
a passport for direct return to the United
States. It sets out the Department’s
procedures for denying and cancelling
Consular Reports of Birth Abroad.
Finally, the proposed rule provides
additional information relating to the
conduct of review hearings.
DATES: The Department will accept
comments on the proposed regulation
up to February 12, 2018.
ADDRESSES: Submit comments by any of
the following methods:
• Internet: At www.regulations.gov,
search for this notice by searching for
Docket No. DOS–2016–0080 or RIN
1400–AD54.
• By mail: Director, Office of Legal
Affairs and Law Enforcement Liaison,
Passport Services, U.S. Department of
State, 44132 Mercure Circle, P.O. Box
1227, Sterling, VA 20166–1227
• By email: Submit comments to:
PassportRules@state.gov.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Anita Mody, Office of Legal Affairs,
Passport Services, (202) 485–6500.
Hearing- or speech-impaired persons
SUMMARY:
E:\FR\FM\14DEP1.SGM
14DEP1
]]>Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 82, Number 239 (Thursday, December 14, 2017)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 58777-58778]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2017-26708]
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Office of the Secretary
14 CFR Part 241
[Docket No. RITA-2011-0001]
RIN 2105-AE31
Ancillary Airline Passenger Revenues
AGENCY: Office of the Secretary, Department of Transportation.
ACTION: Proposed rule; withdrawal.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Department of Transportation (the Department) is
withdrawing a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPRM) published on July
15, 2011 that proposed to collect detailed revenue information
regarding airline imposed fees from those air carriers meeting the
definition of a large certificated air carrier. We are withdrawing this
rulemaking in light of the comments we received. The withdrawal of this
rulemaking corresponds with the Department's and Administration's
priorities and is consistent with the Executive Order 13771, Reducing
Regulation and Controlling Regulatory Costs, January 30, 2017.
DATES: Amendatory instructions 3 through 6 of the proposed rule
published July 15, 2011 (76 FR 41726), are withdrawn as of December 14,
2017.
ADDRESSES: Electronic Access: You can view and download related
documents and public comments by going to the website https://www.regulations.gov. Enter the docket number DOT-RITA-2011-0001 in the
search field.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Zeenat Iqbal and Blane A. Workie,
Office of Aviation Enforcement and Proceedings, 1200 New Jersey SE,
Room W96-414, Washington, DC 20590, (202) 366-9893,
[email protected] (email).
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
Background
On July 7, 2011, the Office of the Secretary issued a notice of
proposed rulemaking (NPRM) proposing to collect detailed information
about ancillary fees paid by airline consumers to determine the total
amount of fees carriers collect through the a la carte pricing approach
for optional services related to air transportation. The Department
also proposed to alter its matrix for collecting and publishing data on
mishandled baggage and to collect information regarding damage, delay
or loss of wheelchairs and scooters transported in the aircraft cargo
compartment. The final rule relating to reporting of data for
mishandled baggage and wheelchairs (2104-AE41) was issued on November
2, 2016 (81 FR 76300). We are withdrawing the other topic covered in
the proposed rule, the reporting of airline fee revenue.
The NPRM
In the NPRM, the Department proposed to create two stand-alone
reporting forms, designated P-9 and P-9.1, to capture ancillary
revenues. Specifically, air carriers with annual reporting revenue of
$20 million or more would be required to submit the P-9 form quarterly
and air carriers with annual reporting revenue below $20 million would
be required to submit the form P-9.1 on a semiannual basis. The
information required by the two proposed schedules was identical; they
differed only in the required reporting frequency. The NPRM also
proposed to define ancillary revenues as those charges paid by airline
passengers that are not included in the standard ticket fare. The
Department solicited comments on which items should be specifically
identified as ancillary revenues, and proposed to collect data on 19
separate charges for optional services. The categories included: (1)
Booking fees, (2) priority check-in and security screening, (3)
baggage, (4) in-flight medical equipment, (5) in-flight entertainment/
internet access, (6) sleep sets, (7) in-flight food/non-alcoholic
drinks, (8) alcoholic drinks, (9) pets, (10) seating assignments, (11)
reservation cancellation and change fees; (12) charges for lost ticket;
(13) unaccompanied minor/passenger assistance fee; (14) frequent flyer
points/points acceleration; (15) commissions on travel packages; (16)
travel insurance; (17) duty-free and retail sales; (18) one-time access
to lounges and (19) other.
Comments Received
In response to the 2011 NPRM, the Department received approximately
280 comments from airlines, airports, trade associations, unions,
consumer groups and private citizens who use this data. There was wide
support among consumers and consumer rights groups for the proposed
rule's reporting requirements. Consumers and consumer rights groups, as
well as ACI-NA and Southwest Airlines, commented that the reporting
requirement would bring the benefits of both increased transparency and
improved data corroboration regarding the impact of ancillary fees on
the Airport and Airway Trust Fund.
On the other hand, most airlines and industry organizations
commented that the proposed rule will not benefit the public because
the Department has not demonstrated a need for this information. They
asserted that the rule will not increase the transparency of pricing
for airline revenues. Airlines also commented that if the justification
for this rule is to tax ancillary revenues, the Department must state
that justification. In addition, several airlines and industry groups
suggested that the Department underestimated the proposed rule's
economic burden on industry.
With regard to the proposed 19 categories, industry groups,
consumer groups and airlines commented that the Department failed to
justify the proposed categories and suggested various changes to the
list of 19 charges for which air carriers would have to report revenues
under the proposed rule. Carriers also expressed concern that the
proposed reporting requirements would require carriers to reveal
proprietary information to their competitors. Some carriers suggested
that there is no correlation between a carrier's disclosure of itemized
aggregate revenue data and consumer concerns regarding fare
transparency. Southwest Airlines, which supported the Department's
stated goal of making ticket pricing more transparent for
[[Page 58778]]
consumers, also urged the Department to reduce the number of categories
by half.
Reason for Withdrawal
The purpose of this rulemaking was to make airline pricing more
transparent to consumers and airline analysts. Although we believe
there would be benefits of collecting and publishing the proposed
aviation data, the Department also takes seriously industry concerns
about the potential burden of this rule. The Department is withdrawing
this rulemaking proposal. The withdrawal of this rulemaking corresponds
with the Department's and Administration's priorities and is consistent
with the Executive Order 13771, Reducing Regulation and Controlling
Regulatory Costs, January 30, 2017.
Issued in Washington, DC, on December 5, 2017.
Elaine L. Chao,
Secretary of Transportation.
[FR Doc. 2017-26708 Filed 12-13-17; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE P
