The US government has approved Southwest Airlines and Virgin America to buy takeoff and landing rights at New York's LaGuardia Airport that American Airlines and US Airways agreed to sell to win approval for their merger.
Southwest Airlines has acquired 12 takeoff and landing slots (for six roundtrip flights) at LaGuardia Airport (LGA). In addition, Southwest gained permanent control of 10 takeoff and landing slots (for five roundtrip flights) that it currently operates under a lease from American. Details of the transactions are confidential. Southwest plans to begin its new service at LGA in May 2014. Details of the new service will be available later this month.
Virgin America will get enough slots for six flights per day. The airline currently does not serve LaGuardia. The airline plans to would announce more details on where it will fly from LaGuardia in the coming weeks.