Newsstand - FAA says Wichita has 30 days to remedy differences in airline treatment

WICHITA, Kan. - The Federal Aviation Administration has given city officials 30 days to come up with a plan to address differences in economic subsidies for AirTran Airways and Delta Air Lines.

http://www.kansas.com/mld/kansas/news/state/11419221.htm

The Federal Aviation Administration has given the City of Wichita more time to respond to a preliminary finding that giving AirTran Airways millions in subsidies discriminates against other airlines serving Wichita.

http://www.kansas.com/mld/kansas/11554579.htm

http://www.kbsd6.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=KBSD/MGArticle/BSD_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1031782538484

More flights, more often. That's what Delta Airlines says it will give Wichita, in return for a subsidy like the one the city offers AirTran Airways.

Delta is offering six flights a day to Atlanta, plus one daily flight to Orlando. But it wants $2.5 million in subsidies from the City of Wichita.

http://www.kbsd6.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=KBSD/MGArticle/BSD_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1031782754615

We're right and you're wrong. That's the basic message Wichita city leaders sent the FAA Monday. The Federal Aviation Administration called the city's exclusive subsidies to AirTran unfair. It was Delta Airlines that complained to the federal agency.

http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/news/local/11764287.htm

WICHITA, Kan. - Delta Air Lines, which has been battling the city over subsidies given to rival Air Tran Airways, has announced it is dropping seven of its daily flights from Wichita's Mid-Continent Airport.

The discontinued flights include three to Salt Lake City, two to Cincinnati and two to Atlanta, airport director Tom Nolan said. The move takes effect July 1.

The city rejected an offer from Delta earlier this month to add daily nonstop flights to Orlando, Fla., in exchange for the same $2.5 million annual subsidy the city gives to AirTran. Delta officials say the subsidies create a competitive disadvantage for their airline in Wichita.