The union that represents the pilots of US Airways has asked the Justice Department’s antitrust division to investigate the potential for anti-competitive effects of a proposed slot, gate and facility transaction between US Airways and Delta Air Lines at New York La Guardia and Washington Reagan National airports.

According to the US Airline Pilots Association (USAPA), the transaction would result in a reduction in service to small communities and a loss of jobs in the New York area, most notably at US Airways Express carrier Piedmont Airlines. The proposal calls for the transfer of 125 pairs of slots at La Guardia from US Airways to Delta and 42 pairs at Reagan National from Delta to US Airways.

US Airways’ plans to eliminate 26 destinations from La Guardia would result in the loss of 300 jobs at Piedmont, which now flies 50 de Havilland Dash 8-100s and -300s, primarily from Charlotte, Philadelphia, La Guardia and Reagan National.

For its part, Delta said it will add new flights to more than a dozen cities not currently served by US Airways out of La Guardia. In every slot where US Airways operates small turboprops today, it said, Delta will operate larger jets.