Pittsburgh International Airport officials, worried once again about US Airways, are asking a bankruptcy judge to prevent a repeat of what happened at 11:39 p.m. on March 30, 2003.

That night, only 21 minutes before the nation's seventh-largest airline emerged from its first bankruptcy, US Airways rejected its leases with the Allegheny County Airport Authority, the airport's owner and operator. Aviation officials, referring to the move in bankruptcy court documents yesterday as a "stealth attack," claim the 11th-hour decision violated a promise made only weeks earlier, when US Airways pledged to assume its Pittsburgh-area contracts in a March 10, 2003 letter, according to the documents.

"We were lied to," said airport authority solicitor Jeff Letwin.

In the bankruptcy documents filed yesterday, the airport authority asked Alexandria, Va., bankruptcy judge Stephen Mitchell to ensure that Pittsburgh International Airport has "adequate notice" if US Airways decides to reject its leases again. It also wants US Airways to decide on any rejected leases by Jan. 20, instead of the April 30 deadline requested by US Airways. The judge will consider both requests Tuesday.

"We want some certainty as to what their plans are so we can make our plans," Letwin said.

US Airways spokesman David Castelveter said the April 30 extension "would give it the time it needs to thoroughly assess all of its facility needs," but declined to talk about any specific airports yesterday.

Ten months ago, US Airways signed a new long-term lease at Pittsburgh International, giving it 10 gates. It remains the No. 1 carrier despite drastic service reductions in recent years. The airport authority said in its bankruptcy documents yesterday that it would be "surprising" if the airline were to express uncertainty about its use of the airport after bankruptcy. Given what happened in 2003, however, the authority "finds it necessary to proceed with skepticism and caution."

In other news yesterday, US Airways met with negotiators for the machinists union.

The company is asking the union for $220 million in annual concessions, a request that may result in the loss of 2,800 jobs. The company plans to meet with baggage handlers today and passenger service workers tomorrow.