Delta Air Lines has reached a definitive agreement with US Airways to exchange certain flying rights and airport facilities at New York’s LaGuardia and Washington’s Reagan National airports.
The agreement, which is subject to government approvals, means Delta would be able to create a domestic hub at LaGuardia Airport.
The deal calls for US Airways to transfer 125 operating slot pairs to Delta at LaGuardia and Delta to transfer 42 operating slot pairs to US Airways at Reagan National.
The airlines also will swap gates at LaGuardia between the Marine Air Terminal and US Airways’ Terminal C to consolidate all Delta operations – including the Delta Shuttle – into an expanded main terminal facility with 11 additional gates for Delta customers.
“Delta continues to take innovative steps to adapt our business to the changing competitive and economic environment we face,” said chief executive officer Richard Anderson.
“Increasing Delta’s service in the world’s most competitive and largest air service market is a key part of our long-term strategy. This transaction will provide substantial benefits to our customers, employees and shareholders in years to come.”
Delta expects to more than double the number of nonstop destinations it serves from LaGuardia, and to add new flights to more than a dozen cities not currently served by US Airways.
In every slot where US Airways operates small turboprops today, Delta will operate larger jets.
But the airline said it would also continue to invest at its hub at New York JFK.
By Bev Fearis
