AirTran CEO supports consolidation, lobbies for D.C., N.Y., landing slots

WASHINGTON -- Speaking to an audience that included officials from the Department of Transportation and Federal Aviation Administration, AirTran Airways CEO Bob Fornaro bluntly made clear his airline's desire for more landing rights at federally restricted airports in both New York and Washington.

Fornaro made those comments this afternoon while speaking to the Aero Club of Washington, D.C., saying that should two rivals merge, AirTran would "seek out" any slots or assets those carriers might have to relinquish – especially at the capacity-controlled airports of New York LaGuardia and Washington Reagan National.

AirTran would also be interested in securing space in Atlanta and Chicago O'Hare, should a merged rival divest assets at either of those airports. AirTran has made no secret of its desire to secure more space in Atlanta, where rival Delta is the dominant carrier. Delta is currently thought to be in advanced merger talks with Northwest.

"It may surprise some of you, but AirTran is in favor of consolidation," Fornaro said, adding "the sooner the better."

But Fornaro made it clear that while AirTran may look to pick up some landing slots if bigger airlines combine, he was not in favor of "consolidation at the expense of competition."

Saying that AirTran would like to further increase its attractiveness to business travelers, Fornaro said "access to key cities is absolutely crucial for us to develop a strong network."

"You have to go to the places they want to go," Fornaro said.

In particular, he said AirTran had been working hard to secure additional landing slots at New York LaGuardia and Washington Reagan National – airports where access is capacity-controlled by the Department of Transportation.

"We've made small inroads, but we haven't gotten all we need or want" at those airports, he said.

Fornaro also looked at the issue of congestion, and took a special exception to the number of regional jets now being used at some of the USA's most popular airports.