United and Delta slot swap blocked
US airline giants United and Delta have been blocked from trading take off and landing slots at two east coast airports.
The Justice Department has stepped in because it clams the deal would increase United’s dominant position at New York’s Newark Liberty Airport.
It says this will make it harder for other airlines to compete.
"Competition in Newark is in critically short supply," William J. Baer, the assistant attorney general, said in a statement. "Allowing United to acquire even more slots at Newark would fortify United’s monopoly position and weaken rivals’ ability to challenge that dominance, leaving consumers to pay the price."
United already controls more than 70% of the traffic in Newark following its merger with Continental.
Airfares from Newark are among the highest in the US, according to the Justice Department, as a result of what it called a ‘Newark premium’.
United has signaled its intention to move out of JFK airport, where it hasn’t made a profit for the past seven years, and focus instead on Newark. As a result, it planned to lease 22 slots from Delta at Newark in exchange for 24 slots at Kennedy.
United argues the agreement would be good for passengers and says it will ‘vigorously defend’ its case
Linsey McNeill
Editor Linsey McNeill has been writing about travel for more than three decades. Bylines include The Times, Telegraph, Observer, Guardian and Which? plus the South China Morning Post. She also shares insider tips on thetraveljournalist.co.uk
Vegas’s Billion-Dollar Secrets – What They Don’t Want Tourists to Know
Visit Florida’s New CEO Bryan Griffin Shares His Vision for State Tourism with Graham
Chicago’s Tourism Renaissance: Graham Interviews Kristin Reynolds of Choose Chicago
Graham Talks with Cassandra McCauley of MMGY NextFactor About the Latest Industry Research
Destination International’s Andreas Weissenborn: Research, Advocacy, and Destination Impact
Graham and Don Welsh Discuss the Success of Destinations International’s Annual Conference
Graham and CEO Andre Kiwitz on Ventura Travel’s UK Move and Recruitment for the Role
Brett Laiken and Graham Discuss Florida’s Tourism Momentum and Global Appeal
Graham and Elliot Ferguson on Positioning DC as a Cultural and Inclusive Global Destination
Graham Talks to Fraser Last About His England-to-Ireland Trek for Mental Health Awareness
Kathy Nelson Tells Graham About the Honour of Hosting the World Cup and Kansas City’s Future
Graham McKenzie on Sir Richie Richardson’s Dual Passion for Golf and His Homeland, Antigua
ADS PRO 
Phocuswright reveals the world's largest travel markets in volume in 2025
Higher departure tax and visa cost, e-arrival card: Japan unleashes the fiscal weapon against tourists
Cyclone in Sri Lanka had limited effect on tourism in contrary to media reports
Singapore to forbid entry to undesirable travelers with new no-boarding directive
Euromonitor International unveils world’s top 100 city destinations for 2025