I don’t think TFA has ever run a purely airline story, but this is the biggest transportation story of the day. It will be felt in the Northeast and throughout the country. It’s another brilliant move from a great company. I salute Southwest.

The Dallas Morning News files the report.

Southwest to buy ATA assets, get New York LaGuardia slots

 

08:53 PM CST on Tuesday, November 18, 2008

 

By TERRY MAXON / The Dallas Morning News
tmaxon@dallasnews.com 

Southwest Airlines Co. plans to buy ATA Airlines so it can obtain the bankrupt carrier’s operating slots at New York LaGuardia Airport, the airline confirmed Tuesday evening.

 

Southwest spokeswoman Beth Harbin said the airline intends to start service out of LaGuardia, assuming the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Indianapolis approves Southwest’s bid of $7.5 million.

 

“We’re working with ATA Airlines with the conditions and terms of the bid,” Ms. Harbin said. “The intent is not to operate ATA Airlines. The intent is to allow Southwest Airlines to acquire the LaGuardia slots.”

 

The deal, first reported by Bloomberg News, would give Southwest the control of 14 takeoff and landing slots, sufficient to operate seven round trip flights a day.