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The Federal Aviation Administration is proposing new rules intended to enhance competition at Newark Liberty International Airport, where United Airlines accounts for 73 percent of all flights.

(David Gard/The Star-Ledger)

NEWARK —Federal regulators might be on the verge of loosening United Airlines' tight grip on Newark Liberty International Airport.

Fliers could see a wider variety of airlines, destinations and departure times at Newark, where United accounts for 73 percent of flights, under new rules proposed by the Federal Aviation Administration that aim to foster competition at the region's three major airports.

The proposed rules, which are subject to a 90-day comment period and could take effect next year, would also apply to John F. Kennedy International and LaGuardia airports. But officials and flier advocates said their impact would be most significant at Newark, which is uniquely dominated by a single carrier.

The FAA said the new rules would also help keep delays in check at Newark, LaGuardia and JFK by making limits on the number of flights permanent, making it easier to keep air traffic under control and planes on-time.

“This proposed rulemaking allows us to manage delays in this high-demand airspace and encourage competition at the same time,” FAA Administrator Michael P. Huerta said in a statement Tuesday.

The proposed rules involve what are known as "slots," departure times assigned to airlines to insure orderly takeoffs and landings. Because of the heavy use and complexity of the region's air space, Newark, JFK and LGA are among only four airports in the country with hourly limits imposed on slots by the FAA.

The limits allow up to 81 scheduled flights per hour at Newark and JFK, and 71 per hour at LaGuardia during the peak hours of 6 a.m. to 11 p.m.

The limits on the flights per hour stifle growth of the region's airline industry, argue critics, including of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, which operates Newark, JFK and LaGuardia and collects a fee from airlines for each flight. The Global Gateway Alliance, a Manhattan-based group supports increasing airport capacity, agreed with agency.

"Instead of arbitrary caps to shrink our airports, the FAA should be concentrating on new NextGen air traffic technology that will meet passenger demand for more flights and fewer delays," the group's chairman, Joe Sitt, said in a statement.

One problem that the new rules attempt to address is that carriers have not had to fill the slots they are assigned, and United and other carriers sometimes don't, whether for profitability reasons, lack of available aircraft or crew, or other reasons.

Not filling a slot deprives the public the opportunity to fly at that particular time. It also deprives competing carriers the chance to offer flights in that slot, possibly for less money or to somewhere else fliers might like to go.

The FAA is proposing a use-it-or-lose-it provision requiring carriers to fill each slot 80 percent of the time or forfeit it. But the rules would also allow carriers to sell, lease or swap unused slots.

Newark Liberty consistently ranks as one of the most expensive airports in the country in terms of ticket prices, a situation some have linked to United's dominance.

"They have a near-monopoly," George Hobica, who runs the website airfarewatchdog.com, said of United's presence at Newark Liberty.

Hobica said the use-it-or-lose it provision could result in lower fares for travelers, though it might not expand their destination options.

"The airlines that get the slots are going to go to high traffic routes," Hobica said. "They're going to go to Miami, they're going to go to Los Angeles, they're going to go to Dallas. And there's already a lot of service there, so you're going to see pricing wars."

United has blamed high fares on the law of supply and demand, insisting it is priced competitively. The airline was circumspect about the proposed new rules.

“We are reviewing the proposal and look forward to a final rule that serves the best interests of our customers,” United said in a statement.

Douglas Kidd, executive director of the National Association of Air Passengers, didn't hesitate to applaud the aim of opening Newark up to other carriers, destinations and cheaper flights.

"We prefer more choices and more competition," Kidd said.

Steve Strunsky may be reached at sstrunsky@njadvancemedia.com. Follow hin on Twitter @SteveStrunsky. Find NJ.com on Facebook.