US Airways Extends Maintenance Lease

PITTSBURGH – US Airways said Wednesday it will extend a lease to continue aircraft maintenance at Pittsburgh International Airport by five years, a move expected to keep more than 1,000 jobs in the region.

The deal means the carrier will keep maintenance operations for its Airbus jets at the airport along with three hangars and mail and cargo facilities.

“This should put to rest for a length of time – five years at a minimum – the question of where US Airways is going to perform their major maintenance,” said Kent George, chief executive of the Allegheny County Airport Authority.

US Airways offered 560 daily flights, more than 80 percent of all traffic, at the airport before filing for bankruptcy in 2001. It dropped Pittsburgh as a hub last year, and now offers 175 daily flights from the city.

Last week, union officials said US Airways Group Inc. planned to transfer 100 Pittsburgh area flight attendants to Philadelphia to staff a growing slate of international flights.

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US Airways: http://www.usairways.com