United's Uber deal raises concerns

[NEW YORK] United Airlines has been reprising its old advertising slogan about the "friendly skies". But some airports think the airline was a bit less than friendly when it formed a partnership with the ride-sharing company Uber without seeking airport input.

At a recent aviation industry conference, Jeffrey Foland, United's executive vice-president for marketing, was extolling the airline's promotions on friendliness, its profitable focus on high-yield passengers and strategic capacity reductions, and its initiatives in mobile technology - including an app in which passengers with iOS and Android mobile devices can book Uber rides when making United reservations.

One airport executive took issue with what some have seen as a unilateral move by United to link up with Uber, even as airports are struggling with whether, or how, to accommodate such rapidly expanding competitors to traditional taxi, limousine and other ground-transit services.