US Airways, Delta don’t like the DOT decision on LaGuardia and Washington slots

As we noted previously, the U.S. Department of Transportation will require Delta Air Lines and US Airways to give up takeoff and landing slots as a condition of approving their slot swap at New York LaGuardia and Washington National.

To summarize: Delta and US Airways don't like it, and the deal is probably dead unless DOT modifies it.

In a joint statement, Delta and US Airways said:

"Delta and US Airways are disappointed in the DOT's decision that, if implemented, would negatively impact the consumer and economic benefits created by the proposed transaction by divesting 16 percent of the transaction at New York's LaGuardia Airport and 33 percent of the transaction at Washington-National.

"Chief among those benefits is the ability for both airlines to maintain and add new nonstop service between two of America's top business markets and small- and medium-sized communities across the United States.

"Our goal remains to increase access for customers in small communities to LaGuardia and Washington-Reagan National airports. We appreciate the thousands of employees, customers and elected and community leaders who have voiced their support for our transaction.

"However, we expect that if this order is implemented as proposed, the transaction will not go forward and significant consumer benefits will never be realized. Both airlines will review the DOT's proposed rulemaking to determine our next steps."

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