Airport Authority: New US Airways Hub an Insult to Pittsburgh Aug 24, 2004 12:34 pm US/Eastern Pittsburgh (KDKA) Airport Authority Director Kent George says US Airways' decision to open a new hub in Florida is "almost a slap in the face" to Pittsburgh. Just a few months after downgrading Pittsburgh from "hub" status to what it calls a "focus city," the airline is reportedly planning to open a new international hub in Fort Lauderdale. George calls the move in an insult to Pittsburgh. "It's almost a slap in the face to say, you're not a good enough hub, but I'm going to start another hub down south, and we're going to try to see if this works." -- Kent George, Airport Authority Director "Abandoning Pittsburgh is immoral, if not unethical... Pittsburgh has always been supportive of US Airways." -- Christine Fox, CWA Union President US Airways says the airline will still have a much greater presence in Pittsburgh than it will in Fort Lauderdale. This all comes after talks broke down between US Airways and its pilot union. The airline says it needs another $800-million in concessions to avoid filing for a second bankruptcy. Roger EWROPS