US EditionUnited Airlines merger with American Airlines would hurt consumers, senators say
The senators said the deal could raise ticket prices, cut flights and weaken smaller rivals as the two carriers together control about 80% of O'Hare gates.
- Senator Elizabeth Warren and Utah Republican Mike Lee warned on Friday that a United-American merger would increase consumer prices, demanding the airlines' CEOs provide information on merger discussions by May 3.
- Earlier this year, United CEO Scott Kirby pitched the potential merger to President Donald Trump, in a meeting occurring three days before the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran drove up jet fuel costs.
- On Friday, American rejected the merger idea, stating a merger would be "negative for competition and for consumers" and inconsistent with the Trump Administration's philosophy toward antitrust law.
- The merger idea emerged amid an intense turf war at Hare International Airport, where United and American control about 80% of the gates; federal regulators last week ordered airlines to cut hundreds of flights there.
- Experts note that a merger of two of the country's biggest airlines would invite significant antitrust scrutiny; it remains unclear if the airlines could receive approval, even with a business-friendly executive branch.
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The New York LedgerBipartisan senators press United and American CEOs on reported merger of leading airlines
A bipartisan pair of senators sent a letter to the CEOs of United Airlines and American Airlines expressing concerns about the possibility of a proposed merger between the two air carriers and requested more information about the impact of a possible deal.The letter was sent by Sens. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., and Mike Lee, R-Utah, who wrote that a merger between United and American would "combine two of the 'Big Four' U.S. airlines into an 'ind…
American rejects merger talks with United Airlines
American Airlines said it's not interested in a merger with rival United Airlines and has not held any such talks, diminishing prospects of an industry-reshaping deal that would face tough regulatory scrutiny.
Senators Warn United-American Merger Would Create “Industry Behemoth”
A bipartisan pair of senators is raising alarm bells over even the idea of a United Airlines and American Airlines merger. Senators Warn United And American Against Merger, Cite Higher Prices And Fewer Choices A new bipartisan letter from U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D – MA) and Sen. Mike Lee (R – UT) sent to United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby and American Airlines CEO Robert Isom makes clear that even floating the idea of a merger has caught the at…
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