US: Travel groups call on Congress to review state of airline competition

The last time Congress convened a panel to look into competition and antitrust issues in the airline industry, carriers TWA, Northwest Airlines and America West were still operating.

That was more than 20 years ago, and a coalition of travel organizations thinks it’s about time for another review, especially because mergers and bankruptcies have put control of more than 70% of domestic travel in the U.S. in the hands of four major carriers.

“The time has come to reexamine the state of competition in the U.S. domestic and international air travel marketplace,” says a letter to four key members of Congress from a coalition that represents online travel agents, hotel operators and airport managers, among others.

The group complains that fliers have fewer choices at some hub airports and service has been cut to many smaller airports.

Delta Air Lines, for example, carries about 74% of all passengers out of Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and Southwest Airlines flies 95% of passengers out of Chicago Midway International Airport, federal data show.

Full content: Los Angeles Times

Want more news? Subscribe to CPI’s free daily newsletter for more headlines and updates on antitrust developments around the world.