14 CFR § 398.7 - Timing of flights.

---
identifier: "/us/cfr/t14/s398.7"
source: "ecfr"
legal_status: "authoritative_unofficial"
title: "14 CFR § 398.7 - Timing of flights."
title_number: 14
title_name: "Aeronautics and Space"
section_number: "398.7"
section_name: "Timing of flights."
chapter_name: "OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY, DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION (AVIATION PROCEEDINGS)"
subchapter_number: "F"
subchapter_name: "POLICY STATEMENTS"
part_number: "398"
part_name: "GUIDELINES FOR INDIVIDUAL DETERMINATIONS OF BASIC ESSENTIAL AIR SERVICE"
positive_law: false
currency: "2026-04-05"
last_updated: "2026-04-05"
format_version: "1.1.0"
generator: "[email protected]"
authority: "49 U.S.C. Chapters 401, 417; Airport and Airway Safety and Capacity Expansion Act of 1987 (Pub. L. 100-223, Dec. 30, 1987)."
regulatory_source: "Docket No. OST-95-397, 60 FR 43529, Aug. 22, 1995, unless otherwise noted."
cfr_part: "398"
---


# 398.7 Timing of flights.

To qualify as essential air service, flights must depart at reasonable times, considering the needs of passengers with connecting flights at the hub. It is the policy of the Department to consider the reasonableness of the time in view of the purpose for which the local passengers are traveling. If travel is primarily to connect with other flights at the hub, local flight times should be designed to link with those flights. If travel is primarily local (*i.e.,* to and from the hub), there should be at least one morning flight in each direction and one late-afternoon or evening flight in each direction.