§41719 Air service termination notice

Summary

Airlines must give the Secretary of Transportation at least 45 days’ notice before they stop interstate flights from a nonhub airport that is on the Secretary’s published list. They do not need to give notice for sudden or unexpected financial emergencies (including weather, equipment failures, or strikes), for seasonal-only service changes, if they have served the airport for 180 days or less, if they offer jet service to the same community from a different airport, or if they arrange uninterrupted service by changing plane size or by using another carrier under part 121 or part 135 rules. Before January 1, 1995, the Secretary had to set rules about when regional/commuter carriers could be exempt from the notice rule. Definitions: part 121 air carrier — an airline governed by part 121 rules; part 135 air carrier — an airline governed by part 135 rules; regional/commuter carrier — a part 135 carrier or a part 121 carrier using planes with no more than 70 seats; termination — stopping all service at an airport.