DOT rules US gets to keep DCA-PHX/LAS slot exemptions

The DOT ruled today that US will get to keep its beyond-perimeter slot exemptions at DCA that were originally awarded to America West, used for 3x daily DCA-PHX roundtrips and 1x daily DCA-LAS roundtrip.

The ACAA (Air Carrier Association of America, the perenially-whining front for AirTran, Spirit, and Frontier) had filed a motion with the DOT trying to strip US of the slots, claiming that they weren't transferable and that US had too many slots at DCA, and that the slots had originally been given to HP since it was a limited incumbent.

ACAA's motion was first mentioned in this thread from November, although the possibility first came up in this thread back in May.

I just recently mentioned in this thread here that ACAA did an absolutely *horrible* job at arguing their case, coming off as even whinier and more hypocritical than usual, but the DOT's ruling was forceful enough that it appears they would have ruled in favor of US even if ACAA made a better argument or if other airlines supported their motion.

The DOT ruled that this case was not like AA/TWA, where TWA was stripped of its beyond-perimeter slot exemptions, since this was a merger, while AA merely bought some of TWA's assets. The DOT also ruled that US's position as a large holder of slots would only be relevant when trying to obtain new slot exemptions, and that it couldn't be used to strip slot exemptions previously awarded.

The order is available at http://dmses.dot.gov/docimages/pdf95/388792_web.pdf if anyone would like to read it.

Expect ACAA to appeal the ruling, but it won't matter.