New Mexico has ordered US Airways to stop serving alcohol on their flights scheduled to arrive or depart in New Mexico. While investigating a fatal drunk driving crash caused by a man who became intoxicated on a flight to Albuerquerque, it was discovered the airline lacked the required public service liquor license. It was the first time the state licensing board had issued a cease-and-desist order against an airline.
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New Mexico expects US Airways to go through the approved channels and apply for such a license, and remain in compliance with it. American, Continental, Delta, United, and Southwest, as well as Amtrak, already have New Mexico liquor licenses.
Frontier Airlines, however, does not. It insists that since it purchases and stores its liquor in California and Colorado, it does not agree that a New Mexico liquor license is needed, and it is subject to the liquor laws only of the states it does.
