Delta and US Airways Close Slot Swap Deal

Delta Air Lines and US Airways have announced the closure of their agreement to transfer take-off and landing rights at New York's LaGuardia and Washington’s Reagan National airports. The deal was approved by the US Department of Transportation in October but could not be completed until the terms of the contract, namely the sale of some slots at both airports to competing carriers, was completed.

Under the agreement, Delta acquired 132 slot pairs at LaGuardia from US Airways and US Airways acquired from Delta 42 slot pairs at Reagan National, as well as the rights to operate additional daily service to Sao Paulo, Brazil in 2015. The two airlines are now working on their expanded schedules at the respective airports.

"US Airways has been a solid operator for travelers utilizing the easily accessible service at Ronald Reagan National Airport for many years," said Doug Parker, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, US Airways. "Our expanded presence at Reagan National enables us to add more frequencies in existing markets so customers have more travel choices; it also allows us to expand our service so more smaller communities have access to non-stop service to this very important market and beyond."

"Now that we have closed our agreement with US Airways, we can begin taking steps to expand our schedule at New York LaGuardia, greatly increasing travel choices for our New York customers and increasing competition in the market," added Richard Anderson, Chief Executive Officer. "We also look forward to expanding and modernising our LaGuardia facilities as we create a Delta hub operation at LaGuardia."