Hello from bizjournals.com! Bill Hough (psa188@xxxxxxxx) thought you might like the following article from Pittsburgh Business Times: Rendell may ask US Airways to move headquarters ------------------------------------------------------------ Pennsylvania Gov. Ed Rendell could push for US Airways to base its headquarters in the Keystone State, in return for lease concessions and state funding for improvements at airports in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, where the airline operates two of its largest hubs. According to a local published report, Mr. Rendell said US Airways should move its corporate offices here from Arlington, Va., as part of the state's agreement to help with $155 million of improvements at Pittsburgh International Airport and $235 million at Philadelphia International Airport. Included in the requests apparently is $40 million for a maintenance and training facility for the airline's new regional carrier, MidAtlantic Airways, which is expected to be based in Pittsburgh. A spokesman for Mr. Rendell was not immediately available for comment. David Castelveter, a US Airways spokesman, declined to say whether the airline would consider such a move, in return for lease concessions and financial assistance. He also declined to say when airline officials will next meet with local and state elected officials to discuss the lease and improvements. US Airways CEO David Siegel has already met at least once with Allegheny County Executive Jim Roddey and the airline has said it has also initiated dialogue with Mr. Rendell. Pittsburgh is the county seat for Allegheny County. "All of these issues are issues that will be discussed in private ... with the county executive, as well as Gov. Rendell and his staff," Mr. Castelveter said. "We'll negotiate, and when there's something to tell, we'll tell you." Mr. Siegel informed Allegheny County officials last month that the airline had rejected its current lease as part of its successful Chapter 11 bankruptcy restructuring and would seek to negotiate a new one that would reduce its operating costs. He set a Jan. 4, 2004, deadline for reaching an agreement. The airline would continue to pay its current rates until that date, but would reject the lease on Jan. 5 if a new agreement was not in place. Mr. Siegel also told Allegheny County officials that US Airways could eliminate Pittsburgh as a hub, if it does not realize unspecified reduced lease costs. US Airways is Pittsburgh's dominant carrier and, with more than 7,700 local employees, the airline is one of Western Pennsylvania's largest employers. The presence of MidAtlantic is expected to create about 500 jobs, but the regional carrier wouldn't have the economic impact that its parent has on Pittsburgh International. US Airways is responsible for 90 percent of the airport's traffic and 85 percent of its annual bond debt. In one form or another, the airline has been operating in Pennsylvania for more than 60 years. US Airways initially was based in Wilmington, Del., from 1939 until 1949, Mr. Castelveter said. In 1949, it moved into space inside an airplane hangar at then-Washington National Airport, now called Ronald Reagan Washington National. Forty years later, US Airways moved to its current location in the Crystal City section of Arlington, Va. Mr. Castelveter said the airline leases its current headquarters building, but he declined to disclose the terms or length of the existing lease. Copyright(c) American City Business Journals Inc. All rights reserved. You can view this article on the web at: http://pittsburgh.bizjournals.com/pittsburgh/stories/2003/04/07/daily55.html