The House aviation subcommittee plans to hold a hearing at the behest of Rep. William Lipinski (D-Ill.) to address the congressman’s grievances over Independence Air’s peak-hour slots at Chicago O’Hare Airport. In a letter to subcommittee chairman Rep. John Mica (R--Fla.), Lipinski raised concerns over the congestion caused by the increasing use of 50-seat RJs and the fact that Independence Air plans to fly the airplanes from Chicago during times that American and United Airlines voluntarily pared their schedules.
The issue centers on Independence Air’s flights between O’Hare and Washington Dulles. Five departures and six arrivals occur between 1 p.m. and 8 p.m., during which time United and American each cut their service by 7.5 percent at the behest of the FAA. Independence Air characterized Lipinski’s efforts as a thinly veiled attempt to block low-fare competition against the airport’s established carriers. American and United deny asking Lipinski to lobby on their behalf, however.
