Merger of interest to region

The merger of American Airlines and US Airways is of high interest to the Gulf Coast region. With the exception of Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport near Panama City, Fla., five other commercial airports along the Interstate 10 corridor have both American and US Airways. The airports are Northwest Florida Regional Airport, Valparaiso, Fla.; Pensacola International Airport, Pensacola, Fla.; Mobile Regional Airport, Mobile, Ala.; Gulfport-Biloxi International Airport, Gulfport, Miss.; and Louis Armstrong International Airport, New Orleans. All five also have United and Delta. American and US Airways reached an antitrust settlement with the federal government to allow the $17 billion merger. The merged airline plans to use the American name. (Source: GCAC, 11/13/13) U.S. Department of Justice release