President Joe Biden’s administration is set to initiate a comprehensive investigation into the competitive landscape of the air travel market, as part of a broader effort to enhance airline competition and curb consolidation in the industry.
On Thursday, the Justice Department’s antitrust division and the Transportation Department announced their plans to conduct a public inquiry into the current state of competition within air travel. Promoting competition has been a key priority for President Biden, who has taken decisive actions to prevent further consolidation among airlines.
Last month, the Transportation Department launched an investigation into major airlines’ frequent flyer loyalty programs, urging them to implement new customer service protections. Additionally, the Justice Department successfully blocked JetBlue Airways’ proposed $3.8 billion acquisition of ultra-low-cost carrier Spirit Airlines and sought legal action to terminate JetBlue’s partnership with American Airlines in the Northeast.
Furthermore, the Transportation Department required Alaska Airlines to make significant concessions before approving its acquisition of Hawaiian Airlines.
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