Cong. Study Criticizes United-US Air Merger
W A S H I N G T O N, Dec. 20 -- The proposed United Airlines-US Airways merger would likely be detrimental to far more of America’s flying public than it would benefit, a congressional investigation released today concluded.
The General Accounting Office study also found the $4.3 billion deal, which would allow United, already the world’s largest carrier, to dwarf by far its next-largest competitor, would touch off other airline mergers. That has been a major worry of both congressional critics and federal regulators still considering the proposed pairing.
“If this merger goes forward, customers will have little choice, few options, higher fares and reduced service,” said Rep. Jim Oberstar, D-Minn., ranking member of the House Transportation Committee, who requested the report from Congress’ investigative arm.
The GAO investigation found the merger of the nation’s largest and sixth-largest airlines, first announced seven months ago, would have a far larger impact than Northwest Airlines’ proposal to acquire a controlling stake in Continental Airlines. Northwest agreed to sharply diminish the deal in an out-of-court settlement after the Justice Department challenged it in court.
The United-US Airways combination would control more than 25 percent of the U.S. market and take in close to $9 billion more in revenue than the next-largest carrier, the report concluded.
“The merger of United and US Airways as proposed, even with the divestiture of selected assets to the new DC Air, would create an airline so large and with dominance in so many markets that, according to airline observers, it would spur further industry consolidation,” the GAO said.
‘Pro-Competitive,’ Says Airline
United spokesman Andy Plews said the airlines disagree with the GAO’s conclusions.
“The facts are, from our perspective, the merger is pro-competitive,” Plews said. He cited planned new routes and increased access for small markets.
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