News In Brief

Eastern cuts fares to meet East Coast competition

Dubbing itself ''a real airline'' in a battle with no-frills competition, Eastern Airlines vowed Monday to defend its East Coast turf and offered $99 one-way fares on the competitive New York-to-Florida route beginning next Monday.

Delta Airlines quickly announced an identical fare. Pan American World Airways indicated it would also match Eastern's lower rates.

Eastern, once king of the lucrative New York-Florida corridor, has been losing market share to the low-cost carriers since the airline business was deregulated six years ago.