AIRLINES

Lorenzo Decision to be Reconsidered: The Transportation Department ordered one of its administrative law judges to reconsider a recommendation that Frank Lorenzo be barred from operating a new discount airline. In an order signed by acting Assistant Transportation Secretary Patrick Murphy, the department told Judge Richard L. Barton Jr. to reopen public hearings in the case and develop a fuller record on Lorenzo’s bid to launch a new carrier, ATX Inc. Barton was given until Dec. 28 to complete the proceedings and issue a new recommendation. Lorenzo, who formerly headed now-defunct Texas Air Corp., proposed in March to launch Friendship Airlines--later renamed ATX Inc.--along the East Coast. He controls 77% of the new carrier. ATX proposed to fly between the Baltimore-Washington area, Boston and Atlanta.