Big airline news, which may have a direct and huge impact on Erie travelers.
Wednesday night, the boards of American Airlines and US Airways voted to merge.
The new airline, in effect, becomes the world's largest airline.
The carrier would keep the American Airlines name, but be run by US Airways CEO Doug Parker.
We spoke with Erie Airport Director Chris Rodgers.
He says, it's definitely good news for local flyers, adding a significant amount of destinations out of Erie. And, with the runway extension, it opens up the possibility of direct flights to Charlotte or Dallas-Fort Worth, which are both Americans hubs.
He says the merger means Erie will now be served by the three largest airlines in the world: American, United, and Delta.
While this will mean less competition, it's too early to tell if this will lead to an increase or decrease airfares. Some travel experts say there will be higher fares because of less competition.
The deal still has to be approved by a bankruptcy judge, and anti-trust regulators.
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