Pennsylvania joins lawsuit against US Airways-American merger
Photo by Flickr user Aero Icarus
US Airways Airbus A321
(Harrisburg) — Pennsylvania is joining five states and the District of Columbia in a lawsuit to block the merger of American Airlines and US Airways.
State Attorney General Kathleen Kane says the business deal could make flying more expensive.
Kane says the combined airline would mean fewer flights and higher airfares for people flying out of airports like Harrisburg International, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh.
The proposed $11 billion merger would create the largest airline in the world.
The suit, brought by the states and the federal Justice Department, argues a merger would eliminate competition on many routes nationwide.
In a news release statement, Kane also criticized US Airways for its abandonment of Pittsburgh as a hub city, and for not repaying bondholders in full for the development of a maintenance facility in Philadelphia.
An HIA spokesman says the airport sees an average of 11 US Airways and 3 American flights per day.
US Airways is responsible for about 28 percent of the airport’s annual service, while American does just 6 percent.
The airlines do not have any overlapping direct routes from HIA.
Other recent business deals have seen the combination of airlines including United and Continental, Southwest and Air Tran and Delta and Northwest.
The states joining the suit include Arizona, Florida, Tennessee, Texas, and Virginia.
View the the filing against US Airways and American Airlines below.
US Airways American Airlines Complaint
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