ASTA Welcomes DOT and DOJ Inquiry into U.S. Air Travel Competition

The recently-announced inquiry into competition inside of the American air travel industry is a welcome site for the American Society of Travel Advisors (ASTA).

ASTA on Friday applauded the Department of Transportation (DOT) and the Department of Justice (DOJ) announcing that they would start to look at the state of competition in air travel, including how consolidation has contributed to higher prices and fewer choices for consumers over the past few decades.

The inquiry also mentions “air transportation sales channels, pricing, and airline rewards programs,” and how they might impact availability, access, and affordability of air travel, something that travel advisors are all too familiar with and something that ASTA has been sounding the alarm on for years.

“Travel advisors sell 735,000 air tickets daily, and they have witnessed first-hand the effects of airline consolidation throughout the history of commercial aviation. Once agents of the airlines, advisors are now their consumers and assist travelers in choosing the best air travel options. This has led to increased prices, decreased choice, and lower satisfaction among travel advisors’ clients,” ASTA said in a statement on Friday.

The public now has 60 days to submit comments on the inquiry at Regulations.gov. The open comment period will close on Dec. 23.