Delta Air Lines (DL, Atlanta Hartsfield Jackson) is not under formal investigation by the US Department of Transportation (DoT) concerning its resistance to the planned development of Atlanta Paulding Airport into the city's second principal gateway. The regulatory authority said in a statement last week that it was simply "looking into the matter"

US media reports last week claimed the DoT was investigating Delta's alleged use of "unfair and deceptive practices" in blocking the development of Paulding Northwest Airport, an airfield located 30 miles (48 km) northwest of Atlanta and which is being considered as a possible alternative to Delta's primary hub, Atlanta Hartsfield Jackson.

“A number of entities have raised questions and concerns about the possible commercialization of Paulding, and we are looking into those questions and concerns,” DOT spokesman Brian Farber told Forbes magazine. “We are not focusing on any particular entity. We are simply trying to assess the facts.”

In 2012, the Paulding County Board of Commissioners signed a deal to develop airport infrastructure with Propeller Investments, a New York-based private equity firm, with Allegiant Air (G4, Las Vegas Harry Reid) expressing a keen interest in establishing services there as well.

However, Delta has opposed the proposal claiming it to be a waste of tax-payers money which could be better used in upgrading and expanding Atlanta Hartsfield-Jackson.

“Delta’s longstanding position is that metro Atlanta is best served by a single, strong airport at Hartsfield-Jackson, which is one of the region’s primary economic engines, pumping more than USD30billion annually into the regional economy and supporting tens of thousands of jobs,” it said.

Despite a complaint filed against the carrier by county commissioners and Propeller Investments, three incoming Paulding Country Commission electees have pledged to veto the plan when they take office in January. According to Reuters, they claim the current county board "conspired behind closed doors" to start air service at Paulding Northwest, despite residents' objections.