USAir’s Pittsburgh Operations Target of Antitrust Probe

The Pittsburgh operations of USAir Group Inc., parent of the nation’s seventh-largest airline, are being investigated by the Justice Department for possible antitrust violations, a Pittsburgh law enforcement official said today.

“This is an investigation in order to determine whether there is an antitrust violation,” said James Dodaro, Allegheny County solicitor, adding that other carriers at other airports are being investigated.

A spokesman for Arlington, Va.-based USAir confirmed that the Justice Department is investigating its Pittsburgh operations, where USAir is the dominant airline, but declined to elaborate on the nature of the probe.

In Washington, a Justice Department spokesman said the department is investigating airline pricing in general but declined to say if USAir is included in that probe.