US Airways, Delta complete gate-swap deal

US Airways Group Inc. and Delta Air Lines said Tuesday they closed a deal to swap some takeoff and landing rights at New York's LaGuardia Airport and Washington, D.C.'s Reagan National Airport.

At Reagan, US Airways, the dominant carrier in Philadelphia, acquired 42 Delta slots, which translate into round-trip flights, along with international rights to fly to Sao Paulo, Brazil, in 2015. Delta will also pay $66.5 million to US Airways.

In return, Delta acquired 132 slots at LaGuardia, to increase its presence in New York, where it has a hub at John F. Kennedy Airport. Reagan National is one of US Airways' most profitable operations, while Delta said a larger presence at LaGuardia would alleviate strain on its JFK operation.    - Linda Loyd