FAA Docket for March 11, 2004
Updated:
| Applications and Petitions:
None Answers and Replies: AirTran - LGA Operations - Comments of AirTran in Response to US Airways Petition of Sarasota-Manatee - Airport Revenue - Comments of Lehigh-Northampton Airport Authority Orders and Notices: None Rules and Regulations: None Grant of Petitions: None |
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FAA-03-15925 - Exemption - LaGuardia Operations March 10, 2004 Comments of AirTran Airways in Response to US Airways Motion to File Additional Comments We recognize that these are difficult times for US Airways. With only approximately 400 slots at LGA, US Airways faces some difficult problems. First, if the FAA approved AirTran's request for four (4) additional slots, AirTran would hold a total of twenty‑four slots. While the additional four slots equals only 1% of US Airways total LGA slot holdings, with those additional four slots AirTran would be in a better position to compete at LGA. Moreover, by adding full jet service between LGA and two small communities ‑ Akron Canton Airport ("CAK") and Newport News Williamsburg Airport ("PHF") ‑ some of the communities that US Airways serves with regional jets might ask the carrier to upgrade their service to full size jets. That would place US Airways in a very difficult position. Second, according to various reports, US Airways has asked a number of parties to consider buying US Airways assets including slots. US Airways apparently believes that the value of their slots could diminish if four additional slots are added at the airport and a low‑fare carrier operating environmentally and consumer friendly full size jets is able to expand. Based upon the above, US Airways is the one attempting to "sandbag" its current operations and one of its few remaining valuable assets. It is time for US Airways to closely look at its own filings during the past several years. US Airways typically makes outrageous statements when it has no facts or legal arguments to support its position. US Airways particularly uses this tactic against a party that dares to promote competition or does not agree with them, including the government. Counsel: Ungaretti & Harris, Edward Faberman, 202-639-7501 Petition of Sarasota-Manatee Airport Authority to Allow Use of Airport Revenue for Direct Subsidy of Air Carrier Operations March 10, 2004 Comments of Lehigh-Northampton Airport Authority Counsel: Spiegel & McDiarmid, Jack Corbett, 202-879-4023, jack.corbett@spiegelmcd.com |
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