FAA delays Newark slot auction

BusinessWeek: The Federal Aviation Administration says it is delaying a slot auction planned for next week at the Newark airport after running into fierce opposition from airlines and the New York-area airports.

The airlines had asked the FAA's Office of Dispute Resolution for Acquisition to halt the auction planned for Wednesday for two slots at Newark's Liberty airport.

They would have been the first of several auctions the FAA says are needed to reduce congestion and increase competition at the three airports run by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.

The ruling on Thursday doesn't address the merits of airline opposition to the auction, but says there's no harm in waiting. The FAA says the ruling by its dispute resolution branch is a "disappointing delay."