Subcommittee to Hold Hearing on Proposed Airlines Merger
Washington, D.C. - Tomorrow at 10:00 a.m., the Regulatory Reform, Commercial and Antitrust Law Subcommittee will hold a hearing entitled “Competition and Bankruptcy in the Airline Industry: The Proposed Merger of American Airlines and US Airways.” This hearing will examine the proposed merger’s effects on competition and consumers in the airline industry.
House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (R-Va.) and Regulatory Reform, Commercial and Antitrust Law Subcommittee Chairman Spencer Bachus (R-Ala.) released the following statements in advance of tomorrow’s hearing.
Chairman Goodlatte: “The basic question to answer is how this merger’s impact on competition would affect consumer welfare. I look forward to the testimony of the witnesses, the debate among the members of the Subcommittee, and, in the end, a wise decision by the Department of Justice that ensures a competitive future for the airline industry and protects the welfare of American travelers.”
Subcommittee Chairman Bachus: “The announced merger between American Airlines and US Airways has naturally raised questions about the potential impact on the cost of flying, service routes, and overall competition in the airline industry. Under its antitrust jurisdiction, the Judiciary Committee has a responsibility to examine the competitive impacts of significant transactions on the marketplace. This hearing will allow many points of view to be heard and provide the public with valuable information on the proposal.”
Witnesses for tomorrow’s hearing include:
Mr. Stephen Johnson, Executive Vice President for Corporate & Government Affairs, US Airways;
Mr. Gary Kennedy, Senior Vice President & General Counsel, American Airlines;
Mr. Kevin Mitchell, Chairman, Business Travel Coalition, Inc.;
Professor Christopher L. Sagers, Cleveland-Marshall College of Law; and
Dr. Clifford Winston, Ph.D., Senior Fellow, Economic Studies, The Brookings Institution
All House Judiciary Committee hearings are webcast live at www.judiciary.house.gov. The hearing will take place in 2141 Rayburn. For more information about this hearing, visit /_files/hearings/113th/hear_02262013_2.html