RURAL AIR FARE STUDY.

SEC. 1213. RURAL AIR FARE STUDY. (a) In General.— The Secretary shall conduct a study to— (1) compare air fares paid (calculated as both actual and adjusted air fares) for air transportation on flights conducted by commercial air carriers— (A) between— (i) nonhub airports located in small communities; and (ii) large hub airports; and (B) between large hub airports; (2) analyze— (A) the extent to which passenger service that is provided from nonhub airports is provided on— (i) regional commuter commercial air carriers; or (ii) major air carriers; (B) the type of aircraft employed in providing passenger service at nonhub airports; and (C) whether there is competition among commercial air carriers with respect to the provision of air service to passengers from nonhub airports. (b) Findings.— The Secretary shall include in the report of the study conducted under subsection (a) findings concerning— (1) whether passengers who use commercial air carriers to and from rural areas (as defined by the Secretary) pay a disproportionately greater price for that transportation than passengers who use commercial air carriers between urban areas (as defined by the Secretary); (2) the nature of competition, if any, in rural markets (as defined by the Secretary) for commercial air carriers; (3) whether a relationship exists between higher air fares and competition among commercial air carriers for passengers traveling on jet aircraft from small communities (as defined by the Secretary) and, if such a relation exists, the nature of that relationship; (4) the number of small communities that have lost air service as a result of the deregulation of commercial air carriers with respect to air fares; (5) the number of small communities served by airports with respect to which, after commercial air carrier fares were deregulated, jet aircraft service was replaced by turboprop air-craft service; and (6) where such replacement occurred, any corresponding decreases in available seat capacity for consumers at the airports referred to in that subparagraph. (c) Report.— Not later than 60 days after the date of the enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall submit a final report on the study carried out under subsection (a) to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation of the Senate and the 110 STAT. 3284Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure of the House of Representatives. (d) Definitions.— For purposes of this section, the following definitions apply: (1) Adjusted air fare.— The term “adjusted air fare” means an actual air fare that is adjusted for distance traveled by a passenger. (2) Air carrier.— The term “air carrier” is defined in section 40102(a)(2) of title 49, United States Code. (3) Airport.— The term “airport” is defined in section 40102(9) of such title. (4) Commercial air carrier.— The term “commercial air carrier” means an air carrier that provides air transportation for commercial purposes (as determined by the Secretary). (5) Hub airport.— The term “hub airport” is defined in section 41731(aX2) of such title. (6) Large hub airport.— The term “large hub airport” shall be defined by the Secretary but the definition may not include a small hub airport, as that term is defined in section 41731(a)(5) of such title. (7) Major air carrier.— The term “major air carrier” shall be defined by the Secretary. (8) Nonhub airport.— The term “nonhub airport” is defined in section 41731(a)(4) of such title. (9) Regional commuter air carrier.— The term “regional commuter air carrier” shall be defined by the Secretary.