The US Department of Transportation (DOT) has dismissed without prejudice, a complaint filed by Kalitta Air (K4, Detroit Willow Run) regarding alleged discrimination faced by the cargo specialist at Amsterdam Schiphol Airport in the Netherlands.
The DOT said in an order dated May 1 that Kalitta Air itself had agreed that the so-called Local Rule, a new set of procedures governing slot allocation at Amsterdam Schipol which is due to enter into force after multiple delays on August 31, 2019, will remedy the problem.
"Kalitta made clear in its complaint and reply that it saw the Local Rule as a potential remedy to resolving its problems, and it urged that the Rule, or similar measures, be adopted and speedily implemented. Kalitta expressly urged the Department to encourage the Dutch Government to address the situation, and the Department did so," the regulator said.
Kalitta previously accused the Amsterdam airport operator, the Dutch government, and Stichting Airport Coordination Netherlands (ACNL) of wrongfully withholding slots necessary for it to operate its scheduled cargo services at the Dutch gateway. The airline subsequently called for the adoption of a local rule which would make it easier for cargo airlines, which operate less regularly than their passenger counterparts, to retain slots.
