PITTSBURGH Study looks at effects if US Airways drops hub

An airport official remains confident that other airlines would fill in the gap.
PITTSBURGH (AP) -- If US Airways nixes Pittsburgh as a hub, the result would be fewer nonstop flights and greater inconvenience in general for business and pleasure travelers, according to an analysis of data from the airline.
Few services would remain if the airline eliminated its hub at Pittsburgh International Airport, according to a Pittsburgh Tribune-Review analysis of data from US Airways and the Allegheny County Airport Authority.
Among the results would be 86 fewer daily nonstop destinations offered through US Airways, the analysis showed. Although other airlines likely would make up for some of that loss, Pittsburgh would lose direct flights to 72 destinations, including San Francisco, Denver, New Orleans, Los Angeles, San Diego, Seattle and Kansas City.
Nonstop service to regional destinations such as Harrisburg, Pa., Syracuse, N.Y., and Fort Wayne, Ind., would disappear too.
"Obviously nonstop service is preferred. Once we start having to make connections, it improves the chances of getting to our destination late or not at all," said Paul Lang, manager of travel services for Bayer Corp. in Robinson Township.
The pharmaceutical company is one of the airport's most frequent fliers. Bayer employees in the United States booked about 50,000 round-trip flights last year.
Optimistic
Kent George, executive director of the airport authority, said he was confident that low-cost airlines picking up the slack, combined with 3 million local travelers who board planes at the airport each year, will fill any void should US Airways decide to downsize.
The carrier is currently seeking to cut about $40 million from its annual $50 million airport debt.
"Our focus is to reach an agreement" to reduce operating costs at Pittsburgh International, US Airways spokesman David Castelveter said.