Private lawyer seeks motion to block airline deal

DALLAS (AP) – A lawyer suing American Airlines and US Airways is asking a federal judge to block the airlines’ merger until his case can be heard.

Joseph M. Alioto of San Francisco says the merger would reduce competition and boost fares. He sued the airlines in August.

Alioto’s claims are similar to those raised by the U.S. Justice Department. The government, however, settled its lawsuit against the merger last week after the airlines agreed to give some of their operating rights at major airports to low-fare competitors.

In a filing Thursday, Alioto asked a federal bankruptcy judge in New York to delay the merger, which would create the world’s biggest airline. American Airlines parent AMR Corp. plans to exit bankruptcy protection and complete the merger in the next few weeks.

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