{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.casey.senate.gov/newsroom/releases/casey-calls-on-us-airways-american-airlines-to-protect-jobs-routes-in-western-pa", "Casey Calls on US Airways, American Airlines to Protect Jobs, Routes in Western PA", "2013-11-25", "2013", "2013-11", "Democrat", "House", "PA", "Bob Casey", "C001070", "www.casey.senate.gov", null, null, "legacy", "Washington, DC- Today, U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) announced that he has sent a letter to the Presidents and Chief Executive Officers of US Airway and American Airlines calling on them to protect jobs and routes in Western Pennsylvania after the Department of Justice announced it would not block the merger. As the planned merger moves forward, Senator Casey is urging the new airline to keep both the operations control center and maintenance facility fully functional.\u00a0 US Airways employs approximately 1700 people in the region, the majority of whom work at the maintenance hangar and the operations center. \u00a0Also, it\u2019s still unclear whether the region will be able to still rely on a full complement of routes. Maintaining a wide variety of routes is critical to the region\u2019s long-term economic competiveness.\r\n\u201cUS Airways is fortunate to have 1700 hardworking and highly skilled residents working in the Pittsburgh region. Maintaining these jobs would strengthen Western Pennsylvania\u2019s economy and be good for any newly merged airline, Senator Casey said. \u201cHaving access to a diverse set of routes is what allows the Pittsburgh region to attract businesses and highly skilled workers while remaining a travel destination for people around the world. I\u2019m strongly encouraging both airlines to protect our routes and consider new ones.\u201d\r\nThe full text of Casey\u2019s letter is below:\r\nMr. W. Douglas Parker \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0Mr. Thomas W. Horton\r\nPresident & Chief Executive Officer \u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0President & Chief Executive Officer\r\nUS Airways\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0American Airlines   4000 E. Sky Harbor Blvd.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0P.O Box 619616   Phoenix, AZ 85034\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0DFW Airport, TX 75261\r\nDear Mr. Parker and Mr. Horton:\r\nAs you work to merge US Airways and American Airlines into a combined carrier, I encourage you to maintain all routes and sustain employment throughout Pennsylvania.\r\nOver the course of the past year, we have had several discussions about the importance of maintaining the workforce in western Pennsylvania.\u00a0 As you know, US Airways employs approximately 1,700 people in the Pittsburgh region, the bulk of whom work at the aircraft maintenance facility and operations control center.\u00a0 As you determine how to combine airline functions over the next several months, I urge you to consider keeping both the maintenance hangar and the operations center fully functional and in western Pennsylvania.\r\nIt is my understanding that there are very few overlapping routes between US Airways and American Airlines.\u00a0 As you move forward, I ask that you preserve routes that originate and end in cities throughout the Commonwealth and explore expanding service both domestically and internationally.\u00a0 Pennsylvania\u2019s unique economy that centers upon manufacturing, life sciences and higher education presents substantial opportunities for business travel.\u00a0 Moreover, the natural gas industry is adding significant demand for increased air travel to several destinations throughout the state.\u00a0\r\nI welcome continued dialogue about the importance that Pennsylvania plays in the combined airline and offer my assistance to preserve jobs and routes that will help contribute to the success of your new company.\u00a0 Thank you for your consideration of my views.\r\nSincerely,\r\nRobert P. Casey, Jr.\r\nUnited States Senator\r\n###\r\n\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\r\n\t\t\t\t\tPress Contact\r\n\t\t\t\t\tJohn Rizzo 202-228-6367", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.casey.senate.gov/newsroom/releases/casey-calls-on-us-airways-american-airlines-to-protect-jobs-routes-in-western-pa"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.9736740030348301, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}