U.S. frees up airspace for July 4 weekend
Military to open restricted area off East Coast to relieve traffic congestion.
NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- The U.S. military will open up airspace for commercial air travel during the Independence Day weekend to relieve congestion, the U.S. Department of Transportation said Wednesday.
The Department of Defense will free up airspace off the East Coast, from Maine to Florida, from 6 p.m. ET on July 3 to 6 a.m. ET on July 7, according to the Transportation Department.
"Today's announcement will help ensure that travelers don't have to celebrate Independence Day by being stuck on an airplane," said U.S. Transportation Secretary Mary E. Peters.
This is not the first time the military has opened up restricted space that it does not use during the holidays. The military also freed up airspace during Memorial Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas.
The airline industry's leading carriers - AMR Corp.'s (AMR, Fortune 500) American Airlines, Delta Air Lines (DAL, Fortune 500), UAL Corp.'s (UAUA, Fortune 500) United Airlines, Continental Airlines (CAL, Fortune 500), Northwest Airlines (NWA, Fortune 500) and U.S.Airways (LCC, Fortune 500) - are cutting capacity and raising fares to alleviate the pain of rising fuel costs. 
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