SYRACUSE -- Sen. Charles Schumer is urging Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood to quickly review a deal between U.S. Airways and Delta that could greatly boost air service from Syracuse to New York City.

Schumer says Delta is seeking to take over the U.S. Airways regional hub at LaGuardia and the 132 pairs of flight slots that come along with it. The deal is subject to approval by regulators at the Department of Transportation and review by the Department of Justice.

If the deal is approved, Syracuse passengers could have access to more seats on bigger Delta jets.

Sen. Schumer says a deal like this is important because it improves Syracuse’s connection to LaGuardia Airport. He says, while JFK Airport has direct connections to many cities that are farther away, LaGuardia provides connections to many closer cities.

"The ability for a tourist, or even more importantly, a business person to get from Hancock and not have to switch airports in New York City and fly to the next place… is very, very important," says Schumer.

Centerstate CEO president Rob Simpson says it’s important for Syracuse to provide as many options as possible for air service to New York City and Washington, D.C.

"This is where members of the Syracuse business community want to fly,” says Simpson.  “Anything we can do to increase capacity, increase the size of planes, and reduce fares to those two destinations, is good for Syracuse businesses."

Schumer appeared at Hancock International Airport Tuesday morning with Syracuse Mayor Stephanie Miner and other local officials to talk about the Delta deal.

Information from the Associated Press was used in this report.