Air travel to and from State College could become easier if the U.S. Department of Justice approves a proposed United Airlines-U.S. Airways merger in April.

Pending approval, the merger will make both Pittsburgh and Philadelphia hubs for United Airlines, increasing air travel possibilities from Pennsylvania, said Jen Bennett-Burita, press secretary for Rep. John E. Peterson (R-Centre). Peterson, along with more than a dozen of his colleagues, has publicly supported the merger.

Additional flights from Philadelphia and Pittsburgh will make travel easier for people in places like State College, Bennett-Burita said.

"Overall, in Pennsylvania [the merger] would be a benefit to rural travelers," she said. "But no matter where you are [in the state] you will be able to get to the West Coast and the Midwest easier."

United Airlines, which provides service primarily to the west coast and the Midwest, will gain U.S. Airways' East Coast and international destinations with approval of the merger. It will add eight non-stop flights to the West Coast from Philadelphia and three from Pittsburgh, a United Airline spokesman said.

New flights servicing Pittsburgh and Philadelphia will include the only daily non-stop service from both airports to Portland, Ore., and San Jose, Calif.

Additional flights from Philadelphia to Los Angeles and San Francisco will also be added, the spokesperson said.

United will also add several new international destinations departing from Philadelphia and Pittsburgh.

Despite the airlines laying groundwork for the merger, currently there are no local plans to accommodate the acquisition, said Dave Neufer, U.S. Air Express station manager at the University Park Airport.

Neufer said the airport would not make any plans until after the Justice Department has made its final decision. Regardless, change will not come quickly, he said.

"Either way, there won't be any changes for about a year," Neifer said.

United Airline's acquisition of US Airways, already approved by Congress, is currently undergoing investigation by the Justice Department to ensure it does not violate any anti-trust laws, Bennett-Burita said.

The merger is in regulatory review and the Justice Department deadline was extended in late December to allow the department more time to review, according to a statement released by United Airlines in December. The decision should be made by April 2, according to the statement.

However, a decision might come sooner than expected.

The New York Times reported yesterday that American Airlines is on its way through a deal to acquire Trans World Airlines (TWA) and buy a separate stake in U.S. Airways.