Legislative Background
Recent Action on Airline Consolidation
The proposed airline mergers have raised concerns in Congress that most of domestic travel could be dominated by three industry leaders. Senate Hearings On February 7, 2001, the Senate Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on Antitrust, Business Rights, and Competition held a hearing on airline competition. On the same day, Representative Louise M. Slaughter (NY-D) and Senator Charles E. Schumer (NY-D) asked Transportation Secretary Norman Y. Mineta and Attorney General John Ashcroft to put a temporary moratorium on mergers while the issue is under study by the Justice Department.Meanwhile, Senator Mike DeWine (OH-R), Chairman of the Antitrust Subcommittee, asked the Justice Department…
