Attorney General Kane defends Pennsylvania consumers in American Airlines-US Airways merger

13-Aug-2013 Pennsylvania Attorney General Kathleen Kane announced today she will join with the U.S. Department of Justice, the District of Columbia and five other states to stand up for consumers by opposing the merger between American Airlines and US Airways. The history of airline mergers is not a happy one for consumers, according to Kane. Before 2008, there were six major airlines competing vigorously. Then came the mergers. The airlines always promised more flights, lower fares and better service. Kane says the promised consumer benefits never materialized. Instead, the airlines have followed each other in raising ticket prices, imposing new baggage fees and reducing service. "This merger would not be good for consumers," said Kane. "Competition would be reduced, and the cost of flying would go up. We know this from past experience, and we know it from our economist's analysis." "US Airways has repeatedly asked for public dollars in exchange for expanded service, but it has often failed to deliver on its promises." Evidence backs this up. US Airways asked Allegheny County to build it a new terminal at the Pittsburgh International Airport, promising that Pittsburgh would be the airline's long-term hub. The airline then abandoned the $500 million hub after its merger with America West in 2005. Other airlines, and ultimately the consumer, were left to pay the bill. US Airways also walked away from its commitments in Philadelphia. The Philadelphia Authority for Industrial Development issued $71 million in bonds in 2000 to help US Airways build a maintenance facility. US Airways did not repay the bondholders in full. And it's not just Philadelphia and Pittsburgh that would be affected. There would be an adverse impact on any city served by the two airlines, such as Harrisburg.