JetBlue and WestJet win slots at LaGuardia and Reagan National: reports

JetBlue reportedly won eight pairs of take-off and landing slots at New York LaGuardia Airport and Washington Ronald Reagan National Airport, while WestJet won eight slots at LaGuardia only, following a bidding process that attracted LCCs from the US and Canada. JetBlue's winning bids totalled USD72 million, while WestJet bid USD17.6 million, according to the US Department of Transportation (DoT) website. WestJet now plans to launch service between LaGuardia and Toronto, and believes the win will help it achieve its US expansion plans, according to wire reports.

The slots became available when Delta Air Lines and US Airways received approval for their slot swap, on the condition they divest some slots at the two airports to smaller carriers. [more - original PR - WestJet]