American Airlines Loses Fight Over Delta Airport Slots
LUXEMBOURG—American Airlines, which gave up rights to two airport slots to Delta Air Lines’ in 2013, on Thursday lost a court appeal to have the European Union cancel them for lack of use.
American gave up the takeoff and landing rights at Heathrow and Philadelphia airports to get antitrust approval for its merger with US Airway. Airlines may keep a slot in perpetuity provided they use it regularly. The European Commission picked Delta to take up the slots.
The EU Court of Justice (CJEU), Europe’s highest, dismissed American’s arguments that Delta did not fulfil its obligation to use the slots regularly….