Aviation

The House Judiciary Committee questioned the merits of the $11 billion proposed merger, which would create the nation's largest airline.

Your morning transportation speed-read: 

After raising the specter of sequestration causing delays at U.S. airports, Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood said Monday that he was "optimistic" Congress would avoid the automatic budget cuts that are set to take effect Friday. 

LaHood has said the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) would have to furlough air traffic controllers if it has to cut $600 million from its budget due to sequestration.

During an appearance on MSNBC's "Morning Joe" on Monday, LaHood reiterated the possibility of budget cut-induced flight delays. But he also said he was confident Congress would heed the warning and put a stop to the across-the-board budget cuts that were agreed to by lawmakers in 2011.

Congressional consideration of a proposed merger between U.S. Airways and American Airlines will begin in earnest this week with a hearing of the House Judiciary Committee.

The panel's antitrust subcommittee is scheduled to meet Tuesday to review the $11 billion agreement between the airlines to combine forces.

U.S. Air and American, which formally announced their merger on Valentine's Day, have said that their combination will create the largest airline in the world.

The Transportation secretary said the administration was not exaggerating the effects of sequester cuts.

Airplane manufacturer Boeing met with officials from the Department of Transportation (DOT) and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on Friday about potential fixes for its 787 "Dreamliner" airplane.

The company is trying to convince the federal regulators to lift a grounding of the 787 that has been in place for more than month.

The FAA said Friday afternoon that is considering a proposal from Boeing to address the battery issues that led to the grounding of the 787, but the agency stressed that no changes have been made to order prohibiting U.S. airlines from flying the airplane.

"The FAA is reviewing a Boeing proposal and will analyze it closely," the FAA said in a statement. "The safety of the flying public is our top priority and we won’t allow the 787 to return to commercial service until we’re confident that any proposed solution has addressed the battery failure risks." 

The House committee responsible for preventing antitrust law violations will hold a hearing next week to look at the proposed merger between U.S. Airways and American Airlines.

The House Judiciary antitrust subcommittee is scheduled to meet Tuesday to review the $11 billion agreement between the airlines. 

U.S. Air and American, which formally announced their merger last week, have said that their combination will create the largest airline in the world.

The administration warns of 90-minute delays in major hubs because thousands of air traffic controllers face furloughs. 

Your morning transportation speed-read: 

The Federal Aviation (FAA) is putting out a call for public comment on its decision to ground Boeing’s 787 Dreamliner following malfunctions on two of the planes.

The airworthiness directive that grounded the plane will be published in the Federal Register Friday, more than a month after the FAA order came down and as the Boeing is reportedly close to a fix.