US AIRWAYS WANTS DOT TO PUSH FOR MORE COMPETITION AT LONDONÆS HEATHROW
US Airways has asked the U.S. Transportation Department to continue with its plans to increase competition at London’s Heathrow Airport in anticipation of an “open skies” agreement between the United States and United Kingdom.
“US Airways will be a strong, growing competitive force in the Heathrow market,” the Arlington, Va.-based airline said in a filing with DOT. “But the consumer benefits of US Airways’ presence in this market can only be fully realized if US Airways can serve Heathrow from its three gateways hubs” in Charlotte, N.C.; Philadelphia, and Pittsburgh.
US Airways wants DOT, in its decisions on Heathrow service, to ensure enhanced competition by requiring carriers in both the proposed American Airlines/British Airways alliance and the United/British Midland alliance to give up take-off and landing slots from their “vast holdings” so that new carriers can enter the'market.
“In granting antitrust immunity to AA-BA and UA-BD, the Department would be sponsoring the creation of a duopoly at slot and facility constrained Heathrow with each alliance having the ability to coordinate prices and schedules,” US Airways said.