US Airways and BIA

I am concerned by the recent news that US Airways is attempting a hostile takeover of Delta Air Lines. As a Bangor citizen, a former mayor of Bangor, and someone who relies on the Bangor economy to make a living, I am concerned because this takeover would have a negative impact on consumer choice and airline cost.

Most of the country would not benefit from the US Airways takeover, and Bangor will be particularly damaged if US Airways is successful. The immediate result of this deal is less flights into and out of Bangor. Delta currently runs regular flights to Cincinnati, Atlanta and Boston and US Airways runs flights to Philadelphia – four major hubs of U.S. and international air travel.

This provides easy access for Mainers to virtually anywhere in the country, and easy access to Bangor from virtually anywhere else. These Delta flights are a bridge for Maine residents and the Bangor area’s economy to the rest of the country. It’s unlikely that all of these routes would stay intact if US Airways takes over.

US Airways’ plan for the takeover calls for a 10 percent system capacity reduction, and cities like Bangor are the ones that will be hit hardest if this reduction goes into effect.

Our smaller airport, smaller jets, and less overall passenger volume make it likely that flights into and out of Bangor will be a prime target for the reduction. Fewer flights will naturally mean fewer options in terms of cities and flight times (and dates). This adjustment will likely not be nearly as restrictive as the hike in the cost of flying.

Higher cost and less choice is hardly a win for Bangor residents or Bangor businesses. I urge Bangor residents to oppose the hostile takeover of Delta and support continued airline choice out of BIA.

John Rohman

Bangor