Breeze urges FAA not to give Spirit's slots to major US carriers
Breeze Airways wants the FAA to keep Spirit Airlines' vacated slots away from American, Delta and United, arguing that handing them to the big three network carriers would weaken competition. The agency has not set a timeline for deciding.
Breeze Airways has asked the US Federal Aviation Administration not to give Spirit Airlines' vacated slots to American Airlines, Delta Air Lines or United Airlines. The carrier says handing them to the three big network airlines would increase their market power and cut competition. Low-cost carriers and new entrants should get preference in the redistribution instead, Breeze argues.
The slots are take-off and landing rights at capacity-constrained airports, including New York LaGuardia and John F. Kennedy International, Washington Reagan National and Chicago O'Hare. Breeze also wants the gates Spirit used to be part of the reallocation. Slots alone would not be enough for other operators to replace the competitive pressure lost with Spirit's exit, in the airline's view.
Spirit stopped flying after a second bankruptcy. The FAA has not said when it will decide on Breeze's request.
Sources
- aerotelegraph.comBreeze will Spirit-Slots von American, Delta und United fernhalten