Originally Posted by LAX
Aren't slots at a particular airport considered as assets to an airline? How can the government force the airlines to give up assets for nothing? I am not advocating monopoly, but shouldn't the airlines be allowed to sell their assets, much like other coporate mergers in the US that are "forced" to divest some of their assets in certain markets to satisfy anti-trust laws?
yes. in fact, US sold and leased back 100-odd DCA slots as part of their recent bankruptcy court stay. In contrast, HP didn't pay anything for the slots it petitioned for to add "new" service over and above the old quotas. It uses those at the pleasure of the DOT, and so they will likely be forfeited and re-bid when the operations merger occurs.