A Study of the Civil Aeronautics Board Policy Toward Route Structure Development of Domestic Trunk Carriers

摘要

The study investigates the Civil Aeronautics Board's policy toward developing an economically sound airtransportation system through the selection of air carriers for new routes. This was accomplished by: (1) tracing the evolution of section 401 of the Act and the Board's responsibility therefor; (2) establishing the Board's policy toward selecting a carrier for a new route; (3) showing what effect the courts have had on Board route policy; and, (4) comparing Board policy in recent southern route development with previous route policy. Conclusions are that (1) the Board is to promote a financially strong air-transportation industry capable of meeting the needs of the Post Office, commercial interests of the country, and national defense, (2) the Board does not have the power to predetermine a route system in advance and to tell each carrier the routes it must operate over, (3) a sound air-transportation system must be in existence before the public can derive the benefits of good transportation service, (4) direct route competition has been one of the Board's major problems, and (5) the Board has realistically followed the guidance set forth in the Act.