The U.S. Department of Transportation today allowed more time for interested parties to comment on its proposed global distribution system regulations, granting extensions to the initial comment period deadline from Jan. 14 to March 16 and the final period from Feb. 13 to May 15.
DOT issued the extensions over the objections of American, Continental, Northwest and United airlines and Orbitz and Worldspan. Additional time had been requested on Nov. 22 by a substantial group of distributors and others, including Amadeus, Cendant Corp., the National Business Travel Association, Navigant International, Sabre, TQ3 Maritz, Rosenbluth International and WorldTravel BTI
(BTNOnline, Nov. 26).
The only airline to support these petitioners was America West Airlines, whose filing yesterday called it "telling" that the larger carriers and owners of Orbitz were the only parties opposing "the relatively short proposed extension of the procedural timetable to accommodate a more careful, comprehensive analysis of the impact of the proposed rules." The carrier continued, "The Department is proposing fundamental changes to key provisions of the rules, while explaining that it is not even convinced these changes will improve the current system."