Southwest Airlines Pilots' Association Opposes Delta/USAirways Slot Swap Proposal

Mon Apr 5, 11:12 am ET

DALLAS, April 5 –

Unprecedented agreement would shut out low fares in New York and Washington, D.C.

DALLAS, April 5 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Southwest Airlines Pilots' Association is pushing for the Department of Transportation to disallow the permanent exchange of several hundred slots between Delta Airlines and USAirways at LaGuardia (LGA) and Washington National (DCA) Airports. This unprecedented anti-competitive deal would create hubs dominated by Delta at LGA and USAirways at DCA, giving them unchecked market and pricing power.

US Airways Starts Tarmac Delay Response Early

Mon Apr 5, 4:02 pm ET

TEMPE, Ariz. – US Airways is getting an early start in dealing with new rules requiring airlines to let passengers off the plane after a three-hour delay.

The new rule starting April 29 means airlines risk big fines if they keep passengers on the tarmac more than three hours. To keep that from happening, US Airways says its flights will return to the gate after two-and-a-half hours, unless takeoff is imminent. It says it began following its new procedures on Thursday.

The airline says it expects more cancellations as crews who return to the gate run up against federal rules limiting how long they can fly.