http://66.225.205.104/0810AirwaysMerger.mp3
Some Charlotte hotel and restaurant managers aren't as thrilled as local officials about a possible merger between US Airways and American Airlines. They're worried it will mean fewer customers. A group of them has sent a letter to the mayor and city council addressing their concerns.
US Airways operates its largest hub in Charlotte, and hotel and restaurant mangers say their industries benefit as a result. The letter - which was published in the Charlotte Observer - was signed by the Charlotte Chapter of the North Carolina Restaurant and Lodging Association, and it outlines the group's concerns over the potential merger: would US Airways downsize in Charlotte? And more importantly, would Charlotte cease to be US's largest hub?
The group notes that US Airways shut down its hub in Pittsburgh after it merged with America West in 2005. That resulted in fewer US Airways flights into the city and lots of job cuts. The letter asks for city leaders to refrain from giving support for the merger until they get a guarantee from US Airways that it will stay committed to Charlotte.