Pittsburgh struggles to slash costs, keep US Air With airline traffic dropping, the Allegheny County Airport Authority increased landing fees and terminal rents at Pittsburgh International Airport. The new fees mean airlines' per-passenger costs at the airport will rise to $9.07, up from $7.59, on July 1. The authority uses most of that money to pay off $600 million in debt still owed on the airport, which opened an award-winning new terminal in 1992. Those costs have been a sticking point between the airport and US Airways, which says it will drop Pittsburgh as a hub if costs aren't cut at least in half. The airport expects to have 13% less traffic than initially projected for 2003. US Airways also wants $864 million in rent concessions and improvements at airports in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia. Pennsylvania has offered $263.9 million in aid, but only if the airline commits to certain numbers of flights and employees in Pittsburgh. *************************************************** 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 *********************************************************