Before US can think about flying to LHR they first need to get there s*&t together about flying to China.
US Airways Stresses Commitment
To Philadelphia-Beijing Flights
US Airways is moving to assure
the U.S. Transportation Dept. that it
will reach agreement with the City
of Philadelphia to gain the airport
gates it needs for its proposed
China flights and will also have the
right aircraft by the time the service
is due to begin in 2009.
US Airways was one of the carriers
tentatively awarded new China
flights by DOT after a hard-fought
regulatory proceeding this year
(DAILY, Sept. 26). The carrier won
the new-entrant designation for
2009, plus seven weekly frequencies
for a daily service between Philadelphia
and Beijing. However, questions
arose recently about whether
the proposed Beijing service would
be affected by the carrier’s negotiations
with the City of Philadelphia
over gate availability at the airport.
Maxjet, which did not win any
China route awards, urged DOT to
revisit its new-entrant award to US
Air and instead consider Maxjet.
In its latest DOT filing, US Airways
affirmed — “in the strongest
terms possible†— its commitment
to Philadelphia, its hub operation
and its proposed China service
[DOT-OST-2007-28567]. The airline
said its commitment to international
service at Philadelphia will “not
only continue, but grow.†The airline
also states that an agreement
with the city regarding gates “can
and will be reached long before
2009,†when the Beijing flights are
scheduled to begin.
US Airways “urges [DOT] not to
take any precipitous action that
might keep the company and the
[city] from successfully concluding
their discussions.†Both parties have
“powerful incentives†to ensure
that an agreement is reached ensuring
gates will be available for Beijing
flights.
The carrier also disputes Maxjet’s
claim that it hasn’t begun efforts to
obtain the necessary aircraft. US
Airways said it has already had discussions
with lessors and other carriers
“regarding terms under which
aircraft could be acquired,†even
though the China route award has
not been made final. “While US Airways
would like to move forward
with its [aircraft] plans, it would be
foolhardy for any carrier to sign a
binding commitment for aircraft
before a final order is issued.â€
Maxjet argued that US Airways’
statements during negotiationswith the city call into question the airline’s commitment
to its China route. Maxjet said US Airways is
using the withdrawal of Beijing service as a threat to
exert leverage on the city during gate negotiations.
The use of the route as a pawn should not be allowed,
Maxjet believes. “The public interest is not served by
permitting US Airways to bully Philadelphia†with
the China flights, said Maxjet. -
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