US airlines sue over plan to auction airport slots

WASHINGTON, Aug 11 (Reuters) - Airlines sued the U.S. government on Monday in an attempt to overturn its plan to auction takeoff and landing slots at crowded airports in a bid to ease delays.

The lead trade organization for major carriers, the Air Transport Association, argued in its filing with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia that federal regulators had no authority to sell rights to operate fights.

James May, chief executive of the airline association, said policy makers were being "intellectually dishonest" and attempting an "end-run around Congress" by forcing market-based strategies on the cash-strapped industry. (Reporting by John Crawley; editing by Leslie Gevirtz)