A Department of Transportation official has recommended...

A Department of Transportation official has recommended that the decision of an administrative law judge be rejected and that United Airlines be stripped of its coveted Seattle-to-Tokyo route in favor of American Airlines. However, Matthew Scocozza, assistant secretary of transportation for policy and international affairs, ordered a review of the recommendation. Scocozza said certain findings by Richard F. Walsh, director of the department’s office of economics, “are not adequately supported and documented.” Walsh’s conclusions ran counter to a decision in June by administrative law judge Burton Kolko, who recommended that United retain the route. A final decision is expected by Transportation Secretary James H. Burnley IV within a month.