A request by US Airways to postpone the launch of flights between Philadelphia and Beijing to March 2011 has been denied by the US Department of Transportation (DOT).
The carrier was awarded final rights to serve Beijing in January 2008 for an original launch date of March 2009, but was granted a first waiver to postpone the introduction of flights to March 2010 after the unprecedented run-up in fuel prices in July of 2008.
In June of this year the carrier sought the second waiver, explaining the global economic recession that immediately followed record fuel costs made the launch of its new service to China unfeasible for the near-term.
DOT in explaining its rationale behind the decision to deny the second waiver says: "The request is premature, as we cannot anticipate what the prevailing market conditions will be so far in advance of the end of the current waiver period."
The department explains US Airways is allowed to reapply closer to the expiration of the first waiver for the postponement of service.
At that time DOT reasons "we will be better able to assess whether an additional waiver would be in the public interest based on the circumstances then prevailing".
Source: Air Transport Intelligence news
