JetBlue requests slots at O'Hare

New York-based airline JetBlue has petitioned the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for landing rights at the Midwest's largest airport, O'Hare International.

The low-cost airline, which has long coveted service to the city of Chicago, has said it could spark competition for prices at O'Hare by offering significantly lower fares than are currently available.

At present, air service to O'Hare is dominated by United Airlines and American Airlines, the nation's two largest carriers, and JetBlue believes that adding a significant low-cost airline presence to the mix will force the two legacy carriers to drop their prices.

By its own admission, JetBlue has made no secret of its wish to move into O'Hare because the airline believes its business model would be perfectly suited to what is a major business travel hub.

The FAA has not yet indicated when a decision will be made because it is unsure whether more flights can be accommodated at O'Hare without compromising safety.

It is expected that JetBlue will have a tough time infiltrating the schedule, though.

An expansion of services would only be allowed if there could be assurances that delays would be no more likely with JetBlue in the fold as well, because flights running behind time at O'Hare quickly have a knock-on effect across the entire U.S. aviation network.

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