Originally Posted by BoeingBoy

But more than an equivalent deal (swapping facilities instead of slots) would have at a non-slot restricted airport.

One needs to ask why US and DL want this deal. Because it gives them more influence at airports that already have constraints on competition. That equals more revenue - if US or DL thought they could get more revenue without this deal we wouldn't be talking about it.

It's the pre-existing constraints on competition that causes the government to impose conditions that at will at least foster more competition, even if not as much as letting anyone fly into DCA/LGA as many times a day as they want.

Take PHL, remove WN/F9 from the picture and limit FL and others to operating only a few flights/day. What would happen to fares? Obviously they'd be higher. That's what US and DL want to accomplish at DCA/LGA - the government preventing any more competition with the slot controls while they enjoy the advantage of having about half the available flights (US nearly 60% at DCA).

Jim