Originally published in 1998
Seventeen airport officials from Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington and Wyoming have written to members of Congress who represent the northwestern states, expressing concern about the decreasing level of competition in the airline industry.
“Over the past three years, our airports/communities have experienced reduction in air service, a decrease in the number of airlines competing in our markets and a disproportionate increase in the price of airline tickets,” the airport official said. “At the same time, airlines have recorded record loads and profits.”
The officials pointed to a number of issues now under study in Congress or at DOT and urged the lawmakers to give the issues “the oversight and congressional consideration warranted.” Among the issues listed were the trend toward domestic code share alliances, ticket pricing practices and/or scheduling practices by major airlines that might reduce competition, travel agency computer reservations systems that provide a preference to specific carriers “that mislead the consumer,” and airline financial incentive programs for travel agents that encourage ticket sales for a specific airline.
In a related air-service concern, Texas has received a grant from the FAA which will be used to study opportunities for improvement in air service in Texas. (See Dave’s Column.)
Source: Airport Report, AAAE, Aug. 31, 1998.
