Newsstand - Why sell the shuttle?

Can someone explain the business decision on why UA/US are willing to share the shuttle with American? I guess I understand the rest of the deal, selling MD-80's and F100's to AA, having AA help run DC-Air and the other things, but how does UA gain by sharing the shuttle.

Prob'ly will help them avoid anti-trust charges when their mergers are reviewed. . . .

Because the DCA-LGA shuttle is the air transport resource most familiar to members of Congress and Washington agency regulators. And if these worthies see it jointly operated by two megacarriers, they probably won't notice that all passengers west of St. Louis are being taken to the cleaners by a heinous and abusive oligopoly.

[This message has been edited by BearX220 (edited 01-08-2001).]