Four members of Congress has sent a letter to Attorney General Eric Holder to allow legacy airlines to bid for the slots divested by American Airlines as part of its anti-trust agreement that enables it to merge with US Airways. Only low-cost carriers are currently allowed to bid for the slots, which include Washington's Reagan National Airport (DCA), New York LaGuardia, Boston, Chicago O'Hare, Dallas Love Field, Miami and Los Angeles.
The Congressmen are arguing that if only low-cost carriers are considered, smaller cities that typically lack service on such airlines will lose out and that airline such as Delta and United should also be considered.
"We fully anticipate that many of the slots and gates will ultimately be awarded to LCCs (low cost carriers); we just believe the process should be open to all carriers," the lawmakers say in their joint letter. "While LCCs may increase competition on commercial air service to larger markets, they do not generally provide service to smaller communities or rural areas, as only legacy air carriers have networks that encompass these areas."
Signing the letter were Sens. Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., and John Thune R-S.D., as well as US Reps. Bill Shuster, R-Pa. and Nick Rahall D-W.Va. Rockefeller and Shuster chair the transportation committees in the Senate and House, respectively.