PRESERVATION OF ESSENTIAL AIR SERVICE AT SINGLE CARRIER DOMINATED HUB AIRPORTS.

SEC. 204. PRESERVATION OF ESSENTIAL AIR SERVICE AT SINGLE CARRIER DOMINATED HUB AIRPORTS. (a) In general.—Subchapter II of chapter 417 (as amended by section 203 of this Act) is further amended by adding at the end the following: 114 STAT. 94 “§ 41744. Preservation of basic essential air service at single carrier dominated hub airports “(a) In general.—If the Secretary of Transportation determines that extraordinary circumstances jeopardize the reliable performance of essential air service under this subchapter from a subsidized essential air service community to and from an essential airport facility, the Secretary may require an air carrier that has more than 60 percent of the total annual enplanements at the essential airport facility to take action to enable another air carrier to provide reliable essential air service to that community. Actions required by the Secretary under this subsection may include interline agreements, ground services, subleasing of gates, and the provision of any other service or facility necessary for the performance of satisfactory essential air service to that community. “(b) Essential Airport Facility Defined.—In this section, the term ‘essential airport facility’ means a large hub airport (as defined in section 41731) in the contiguous 48 States at which one air carrier has more than 60 percent of the total annual enplanements at that airport.”. (b) Conforming Amendment.—The analysis for subchapter 11 of chapter 417 is further amended by adding at the end the following: “41744. Preservation of basic essential air service at single carrier dominated hub airports.”.