Business Week -- The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) announced today that it has tentatively awarded US Airways (NYSE: LCC) new route authority to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The flight number and aircraft for the daily service will originate in US Airways’ Philadelphia hub, fly to the airline’s largest hub in Charlotte, N.C. and then on to Rio de Janeiro. It will be primarily operated with Boeing 767 aircraft with seating for 18 in Envoy, US Airways’ international business class, and 186 in the main cabin. Service is tentatively scheduled to begin in fall 2009.
