Talks start on keeping US Airways hub here Thursday, June 19, 2003 By Johnna A. Pro and Frank Reeves, Post-Gazette Staff Writers HARRISBURG -- A negotiating team appointed by Gov. Ed Rendell has started talks with US Airways with hopes of convincing the airline to maintain a hub in Pittsburgh and securing thousands of jobs across the state. "We had a very productive meeting and made some real progress. We are looking forward to meeting again soon," said John Estey, the governor's chief of staff and head of the state's negotiating team. He declined to provide any additional details of the nearly four-hour meeting, held yesterday in the state Capitol. Allegheny Chief Executive Jim Roddey, a member of the negotiating team, said the two sides agreed to hold several more meetings duringcoming weeks. He said the dates and locations have been set, although he declined to divulge any details. Both sides have said they hope to reach a final agreement by July 18. US Airways spokesman David Castelveter said the discussions were private and that the airline would have no comment on their progress. The meeting was held a week to the day after Rendell offered US Airways a $263.9 million package of cost-saving concessions and airport improvements to keep its hub in Pittsburgh and at least maintain its current level of operations in Philadelphia. On Monday, Rendell appointed a 13-member negotiating team, including Roddey and Allegheny County Airport Executive Director Kent George, County Solicitor Chuck McCullough, Airport Authority Solicitor Jeffrey Letwin, and Reed Smith attorney Paul singer, who is assisting a group of executives that has been advising Roddey on US Airways issues. All five representatives from Allegheny County attended yesterday's meeting. The train of events that resulted in yesterday's meeting began in March, when US Airways canceled its leases at Pittsburgh International effective in January unless the airline can slash its costs there. *************************************************** The owner of Roger's Trinbago Site/TnTisland.com Roj (Roger James) escape email mailto:ejames@xxxxxxxxx Trinbago site: www.tntisland.com Carib Brass Ctn site www.tntisland.com/caribbeanbrassconnection/ Steel Expressions www.mts.net/~ejames/se/ Mas Site: www.tntisland.com/tntrecords/mas2003/ Site of the Week: http://www.carib-link.net/naparima/naps.html TnT Webdirectory: http://search.co.tt *********************************************************