Collins touts surviving DC-to-Maine American Air flights

Collins touts surviving DC-to-Maine American Air flights

January 15, 2014, 05:31 pm

By Keith Laing

http://thehill.com/blogs/transportation-report/aviation/195588-collins-touts-surviving-dc-to-maine-american-air-flights

Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) touted that American Airlines’ flights from Washington, D.C. to Maine survived a round of cuts announced by the airline on Wednesday.

American Airlines announced that it was eliminating flights from Washington, D.C.’s Ronald Reagan National Airport to 17 cities as part of deal with the Department of Justice to allow its merger with US Airways.

But Collins said the company would continue flying to Bangor and Portland, Maine.

"I am very pleased that the newly formed American Airlines will continue these essential flights between our nation's capital and Portland and Bangor, two of Maine's largest cities,” Collins said in a statement.  “These flights are not only in high demand from consumers, but are also essential to business development and attraction and to Maine's critical tourism industry.

“As I first explained to [American CEO Doug] Parker when the airlines began this review, reductions in service can have a detrimental impact on small- and medium-sized airports like those in Maine, on surrounding local communities, and on consumers, by limiting options and increasing prices,” Collins continue. “I am grateful that the airline took these critically important factors into consideration when making this decision.”

The Justice Department required the US Air and American to give up 52 pairs of flights to Reagan Airport, well as additional flights at New York’s LaGuardia Airport, in exchange for dropping its lawsuit to block the merger between American and US Air.

The agency said it would allow low cost airlines like Southwest Airlines to bid in a lottery for the vacated flights.

American said on Wednesday that it was eliminating flights to: Augusta, Ga.; Detroit, Mich.; Fayetteville, N.C.; Fort Walton Beach, Fla.; Islip, N.Y.; Jacksonville, N.C.; Little Rock, Ark.; Minneapolis, Minn.; Montreal; Myrtle Beach, S.C.; Nassau, Bahamas; Omaha, Neb.; Pensacola, Fla.; San Diego, Calif.; Savannah, Ga.; Tallahassee, Fla. and Wilmington, N.C.

American Airlines

AMR Corporation is the parent company for American Airlines, and proposing merger with the US Airways Group Inc.

Note: Judith Rodin is a director at the AMR Corporation, and was an honorary trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank).

Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the Brookings Institution (think tank), the Common Cause, and the Center for American Progress.

George Soros is the chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society, and was a supporter for the Center for American Progress.

Marie L. Knowles was an honorary trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank), and is a director at the US Airways Group Inc.

Stephen M. Wolf was the CEO for the US Airways Group Inc., and is an honorary trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank).

Susan M. Collins was a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution (think tank), is a U.S. Senate senator, and a senator for the ME congressional delegation.

ME congressional delegation is the delegation for the State of Maine.

Chellie Pingree is a House member for the ME congressional delegation, a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, her daughter is Hannah Pingree, married to S. Donald Sussman, and was the president & CEO for the Common Cause.

Hannah Pingree is Chellie Pingree’s daughter, and was the speaker for the Maine House of Representatives.

S. Donald Sussman is married to Chellie Pingree, a director at the Center for American Progress, an investor in MaineToday Media, was a contributor for the 2013 Barack Obama inaugural committee, a contributor for Organizing for Action, and a director at the Democracy Alliance.

Organizing for Action is the successor organization for the 2008 Barack Obama presidential campaign.

George Soros was a member of the Democracy Alliance, and is the chairman for the Foundation to Promote Open Society.

Foundation to Promote Open Society was a funder for the Brookings Institution (think tank).

Judith Rodin was an honorary trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank), and is a director at the AMR Corporation.

AMR Corporation is the parent company for American Airlines, and proposing merger with the US Airways Group Inc.

Marie L. Knowles was an honorary trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank), and is a director at the US Airways Group Inc.

Stephen M. Wolf was the CEO for the US Airways Group Inc., and is an honorary trustee at the Brookings Institution (think tank).

Susan M. Collins was a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution (think tank), is a U.S. Senate senator, and a senator for the ME congressional delegation.