Congress advised that slot auctions are illegal=0AThe Government Accountabi= lity Office (GAO) today issued a legal opinion to the U.S. Congress that sl= ot auctions are illegal and the FAA would violate the law if airport slots = are auctioned.=A0 =0AThe GAO, an independent federal agency that advises Co= ngress, confirmed that the FAA has no legal authority to auction slots at a= ny airport, including EWR.=A0 If the FAA decides to proceed with the illega= l slot auction, Continental will sue the FAA to stop the auction.=0AThe GAO= review was requested by U.S. Senators Frank Lautenberg, Bob Menendez, Patt= y Murray, Kit Bond, Chuck Schumer and Hillary Rodham Clinton. The Port Auth= ority of New York and New Jersey, the entire New Jersey Congressional Deleg= ation, N.J. Governor Jon Corzine and N.Y. Governor David Paterson have also= actively supported efforts to block the auction. <<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> If you wish to unsubscribe from the AIRLINE List, please send an E-mail to: "listserv@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx". Within the body of the text, only write the following:"SIGNOFF AIRLINE".