Wed, Apr 07, 2010
Airline Says The Agreement Would Restrict Competition In New
York And Washington, D.C.
The Southwest Airlines Pilots' Association (SWAPA) is
pushing for the Department of Transportation to disallow the
permanent exchange of several hundred slots between Delta Airlines
and US Airways at LaGuardia (LGA) and Washington National (DCA)
Airports. SWAPA contends that the deal is antti-competitive,
and would create hubs dominated by Delta at LGA and USAirways
at DCA, giving them unchecked market and pricing power.
"The pilots of Southwest support our Company's request for a
free market process to take place regarding these open slots in two
very key destinations," said Capt. Carl Kuwitzky, SWAPA President.
"But we also support the benefit to the public of a low-cost
carrier providing true competition for flyers in these
markets."
On March 22, after the DOT comment deadline closed, Delta and US
Airways announced a revision to their proposal: they would agree to
divest some slots, but only if they could hand-pick four smaller
airlines to be given those slots. Southwest Airlines was purposely
excluded from an opportunity to bid.
"An economic expert estimates that Southwest's service to LGA
and DCA would save the public approximately $200 million, annually,
if Southwest were given the opportunity to acquire the slots,"
continued Kuwitzky. "This proposal is a back-room deal specifically
designed to keep Southwest Airlines and its low-fare model away
from these airports permanently."
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