[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 81 (Friday, June 23, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1090]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   UNITED AIRLINES--US AIRWAYS MERGER

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                          HON. JAMES T. WALSH

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                        Thursday, June 22, 2000

  Mr. WALSH. Mr. Speaker, I want to express my strong reservations 
about the proposed merger of United Airlines and US Airways. While I am 
a strong proponent of economic growth and development, this recently 
announced merger could only have a detrimental impact on Central New 
York air service and our economy. Congress was told by the airline 
industry in 1978 that deregulation would bring about greater 
competition, better service, and lower costs for the consumer. In many 
of our large, major urban centers this is exactly what happened; 
however, smaller urban areas haven't seen similar results. Many of 
these communities find themselves saddled with one dominant carrier and 
no competition resulting in extremely high airfares.
  This combination of the two airlines would not only control about 27 
percent of the U.S. market but over 50 percent of the travel market out 
of Syracuse, which already pays the fifteenth highest airfares in the 
nation. I cannot support a merger if increased travel costs, possible 
loss of service, and dismissal of longtime employees are part of the 
equation.

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