Pa. officials ask US Airways to keep flight center

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Officials from western Pennsylvania and Gov. Tom Corbett’s administration are talking to US Airways executives in an effort to keep the airline from moving 600 jobs from a suburban Pittsburgh flight operations center.

The Tribune-Review of Greensburg reported today on the talks. A US Airways spokesman wouldn’t comment, and Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald wouldn’t say whether financial incentives were offered to US Airways.

The airline plans an $11 billion merger with American Airlines that will produce the world’s biggest airline. As a result, US Airways says it might close the $32 million flight operations center and consolidate it with American’s larger facility in Dallas.

In 2007, US Airways accepted $4 million in state taxpayer grants and tax credits to open the center.