(December 15, 2011) -- In yet another installment in the saga of domestic airline consolidation, the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) has blessed a proposal by Delta and U.S. Airways to swap takeoff and landing slots at two critically congested airports – La Guardia (LGA) and Reagan Washington National (DCA). The swap, perhaps best viewed as an agreement between the two U.S. carriers to divide up slots and markets, rockets Delta to dominance at LGA and U.S. Airways at DCA, putting consumers at risk for higher fares, service cuts, and fewer choices in airlines....