; and (2) review potential causes for the increased cost of the essential air service program, including— (A) labor costs; (B) fuel costs; (C) aging aircraft costs; (D) air carrier opportunity costs; (E) airport costs; and (F) the effects of the COVID–19 pandemic. (c) Report Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Comptroller General shall submit to the appropriate committees of Congress a report on the results of the study conducted under subsection (a). 568. Response time for applications to provide essential air service The Secretary shall take such actions as are necessary to respond with an approval or denial of any application filed by an applicant to provide essential air service under subchapter II of chapter 417 of title 49, United States Code, to the greatest extent practicable not later than 6 months after receiving such application. The Assistant General Counsel for International and Aviation Economic Law shall ensure the timely review of all orders proposed by the Essential Air Service Office, and such timeliness shall be analyzed annually by the General Counsel of the Department of Transportation. 569. GAO study on certain airport delays The Comptroller General shall conduct a study on flight delays in the States of New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut and the possible causes of such delays. 570. Report on restoration of small community air service (a) In general Not later than 90 days after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary shall seek to enter into an agreement with the National Academies to conduct a study on the loss of commercial air service in small communities in the United States and options to restore such service. (b) Contents In conducting the study required under subsection (a), that National Academies shall— (1) assess the reduction of scheduled commercial air service to small communities over a 5-year period ending on the date of enactment of this Act, to include small communities that have lost all scheduled commercial air service