Byline: Mark Belko

Oct. 5--US Airways may drop as many as 18 gates at Pittsburgh International Airport as part of its latest round of cuts, but at least one top local official doesn't anticipate a drastic increase in airport costs as a result.

The cutback by US Airways could result in small increases in per-passenger charges the airlines pay toward airport operating costs and could result in closing part of a concourse used by US Airways.

Brad Penrod, the Allegheny County Airport Authority's new executive director, said yesterday the airline has indicated that it wants to go from its current 28 gates to 10 in January when it eliminates another 40 daily flights at ...