Under a new lease extension, U.S. Airways will continue aircraft maintenance at Pittsburgh International Airport.

Rich Stanizzo, of the Allegheny County Airport Authority, said the agreement will help stabilize the work force at the airport in the coming years.

"From a labor standpoint, this is big," he said.

The announcement was made last Wednesday afternoon by Dan Onorato, Allegheny County Chief Executive; Paul Lambert, vice president of Properties and Facilities and Stanizzo.

The airline's current lease with the airport was amended by five years from Jan. 2006 to Dec. 2010 with an option to extend.

The agreement involves three maintenance hangars and the special services building, cargo building, mail sort facility and ground service maintenance facility.

The hangars will be used for line maintenance on U.S. Airways' Boeing and Airbus aircraft and heavy maintenance on its Airbus fleet.

Stanizzo said details on who will perform the various maintenance work is a matter of negotiations between the airline and its mechanic labor unions.

"This agreement is an important step in our goal to keep Pittsburgh International Airport a vital part of the U.S. Airways' ongoing business plan," he said.

"It also symbolizes renewed commitment by all parties involved to embark on an enterprising and realistic approach to dealing with the new U.S. Airways."

U.S. Airways employs 3,169 aviation professionals in southwestern Pennsylvania.

"We're very proud of the employees who have hung in there with us," said Lambert.

Dan Onorato, Allegheny County Chief Executive, said the extended lease is an endorsement of the county's ability to respond to the changing needs of the airline.

Source: yournorthhills.com