The US Department of Transportation (DOT) has given airlines until 2 February to identify which flights they will give up voluntarily at New York LaGuardia in order to alleviate congestion and “restoring reliable air service”. The move is aimed at reducing total scheduled operations from an average of 75 per hour to 71 from 31 May to 24 October, and will reduce delays by as much as 41 per cent and save up to US$178 million per year. The strategy was announced last month after the DOT’s original plan to conduct slot auctions at New York-area airports was halted by the US Court of Appeals. Slots voluntarily returned by the deadline will be credited toward any required reductions mandated by future slot auctions, while those returned or withdrawn for nonuse after the 2 February deadline will be retired to meet the lowered cap with no credit for the airline. DOT said the cap reductions constitute a “at LGA and that “any future long-term plan should include market-based solutions.” It said the reduction to 71 flights per hr. may cut delays by up to 41% and save $178 million per year.