American Airlines-US Airways merger goes on trial Nov. 25

A trial date for the US Justice Department to argue against the merger of two of the country's biggest airlines has been set for November 25. 

American Airlines and US Airways won their request for a fast-track trial during a hearing in federal court in Washington on Friday.

US District Judge Colleen Kollar-Kotelly denied the government's request for a March trial and told both parties to be a "lean, mean machine" in preparing for trial.

"I'm going to set a schedule that enables both parties to get all of the information that you need to adequately prosecute or defend the case, but I’m going to do it on an expedited basis," Kollar-Kotelly said.

The Justice Department and six states filed a lawsuit blocking the merger, which would create the world’s largest airline, claiming it would raise ticket prices and reduce competition.

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The two airlines disagreed, saying the merger was necessary to compete effectively against the newly-joined United Airlines and Delta Air Lines. 

"We are very confident that at the end of the day the judge is going to believe as we do that this is good for the traveling public," Rich Parker, a lawyer for US Airways at O’Melveny & Myers LLP in Washington, told Bloomberg.

Justice Dept. attorney Mark Ryan told NBC that it wants to question airline executives about how it sets fees for baggage and ticket changes.

The trial is expected to last 10 days and will include a dozen witnesses for the Justice Department and six for the airlines.