United States Government Publishing Office publisher pbl distributor dst United States Government Accountability Office author aut Government Organization text government publication eng GAOREPORTS Legislative Agency Publications gao legislative 2010-08-12 U.S. Government Printing Office 2000-12-15 monographic deposited born digital 49 p. GA 1.13:GAO-01-212 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-GAO-01-212 P0b002ee180372dde f:d01212 DGPO 2010-08-12 2011-03-28 GAOREPORTS-GAO-01-212 machine generated eng fdlp REPORT GAOREPORTS-GAO-01-212 GAO-01-212 Commercial aviation Competition Corporate mergers Airline industry Antitrust law Airline regulation Restrictive trade practices Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DC) Letter Report In May 2000, two of the nation's largest airlines, United Airlines and US Airways, proposed to merge. As part of the overall agreement, United and US Airways also proposed to divest some of US Airways' assets at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport to create an airline to be known as DC Air. The Department of Justice is currently reviewing the proposal to determine if the merger would violate U.S. antitrust laws and, if so, whether the proposed divestiture constitutes an adequate remedy. GAO reviewed the proposed merger and found that it would create an airline so large that it would spur further industry consolidation. The new airline would have over 25 percent of the total U.S. market and would take in almost $9 billion more than the next largest airline. And while the proposed merger may benefit consumers by increasing competition in some areas, it could also eliminate competition in other areas and reduce consumer choice. DC Air would face significant competitive challenges from other airlines. DC Air would offer smaller aircraft and less frequent service but would seek to compete with other airlines by reducing its fares. https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-GAO-01-212/html/GAOREPORTS-GAO-01-212.htm https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-GAO-01-212/pdf/GAOREPORTS-GAO-01-212.pdf GAO-01-212 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-GAO-01-212 Letter Report GAO-01-212; Aviation Competition: Issues Related to the Proposed; Commercial aviation Competition Corporate mergers Airline industry Antitrust law Airline regulation Restrictive trade practices Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DC)