Originally Posted by
BenA
I think the mockery is referring to operating the flight exactly eleven times during the entire winter. Technically within the minimums, but the DOT took a dim view of that. They then required Delta to obtain prior DOT approval before canceling more than 2 flights all year (which might have even included mechanical or weather cancellation); that triggered Delta eventually giving up entirely and returning the authority to the DOT.
I think it’s fair to say that someone complying with the letter but not the spirit of an allocation of a rare resource is making a mockery of the process, and I think the way the resulting regulatory process played out was a fair resolution. I also think it was a key factor in the DOT denying Delta’s request for slot flexibility in this round of allocations...
Maybe it is and maybe it isn't, but what DOT said about rejecting the flexibility application was they saw merit in the proposal but it was too controversial and complex to implement on the procedural schedule available.
Also, it's worth remembering that even after Delta's Seattle winter Haneda mess, DOT still gave them MSP-HND over an AA application for DFW. Government agencies don't tend to think in terms of "games" and "punishment" — there are rules and procedures and they evaluate all proposals in accordance with those things. To do any less would invite a lawsuit the government would lose.
While avgeeks might enjoy the idea of the government "punishing" a carrier, it just isn't going to happen.