Proposed airline merger could aid city

Thursday, June 16th 2005, 11:29 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ Air travelers in Oklahoma could have more choices on flights to the East Coast and lower ticket prices at Will Rogers World Airport if US Airways and American West are allowed to merge.

If the merger goes through Oklahoma City could benefit from U-S Airways' large network of eastern destinations while having a low-cost airline like America West competing with rival Southwest Airlines.

Will Rogers spokeswoman Karen Carney says officials like the idea of Arizona-based America West merging with Virginia-based US Airways because of the connections on the East Coast.

American West spokesman Carlo Bertolini says a finalized time table of flights under the merged airline may not come until this fall.