WASHINGTON, D.C. — Today, Congressman Chris Deluzio (PA-17) voted in support of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Reauthorization, the measure that authorizes the FAA and governs all aviation activity in the United States for the next five years. The bill is endorsed by many of the major labor unions for workers in the sector: International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM), Transit Workers Union – AFL-CIO (TWU), and National Air Traffic Controllers Association.
Notably, this reauthorization bill included Congressman Deluzio’s amendment that directs the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to conduct a report on the effect of airline mergers for consumers. In the last three decades, the airline industry has undergone massive consolidation. Today, just four carriers control more than three-quarters (80%) of the market share, and no new airlines have entered the field since 2017. The report required by this amendment, should this measure also pass the Senate, provides a thorough investigation into the state of the market, as well as the potential impacts of poor competition on consumers, prices, flight availability, and safety. Congressman Jesús “Chuy” García and the American Economic Liberties Project both support the amendment.
“Over the last 30 years, our nation’s airlines have consolidated and shrunk beyond recognition,” said Rep. Deluzio. “This staggering lack of competition is a disaster in the making, and American consumers are at risk of experiencing even higher prices, unsafe flying conditions, and poor service to places like Western Pennsylvania. The federal government needs to take this issue seriously, and requiring a report from the Government Accountability Office is the first step to getting the information Congress and Administrations need to address this issue head-on.”
“As airline mergers increase, there is less competition in the air travel market, leaving travelers with fewer choices and higher fares. Lack of competition will weaken the airline industry and make it harder to work through unforeseen circumstances like extreme weather,” said Rep. Jesús “Chuy” García. “I look forward to seeing the GAO provide a report on the effects of airline mergers so that Congress can make informed decisions to protect consumers.”
“The U.S. airline industry has never been more concentrated, and that’s due in large measure to an unprecedented wave of mergers and acquisitions since the 1990’s,” said William J. McGee, Senior Fellow for Aviation & Travel, American Economic Liberties Project. “We applaud Rep. Deluzio and Rep. García in calling for the necessary step of analyzing the harms of past mergers on passengers, workers, cities, and even entire regions of the country. American Economic Liberties Project has stated that before consideration can be given to proposed future mergers—such as JetBlue and Spirit—first let’s have a thorough accounting of all that has gone wrong in this highly consolidated industry.”
While Congressman Deluzio ultimately voted yes on the measure, there are several parts of the bill package that he opposes, including a requirement to increase the retirement age for America’s pilots. He supported a bipartisan amendment that would have blocked this age increase, but House Republican committee leadership refused to allow a vote on the amendment. The U.S. Senate will pass its own FAA reauthorization bill, and the two versions will need to be reconciled before the President signs it into law ahead of the current authorization expiring on September 30, 2023.
Additionally, Congressman Deluzio joined with Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky and others to fight airline industry efforts to roll back transparency requirements for airline fees that have been in place since the Obama Administration. However, the House Republican Majority blocked their amendment from moving to the House Floor for a vote.
“Airlines want to rip off the American people with deceptive, confusing tactics to hide the full cost of flights and fees from customers, and House Republicans are letting them get away with it,” said Rep. Deluzio. “By stripping out my amendment to defend decade-old price transparency laws that protect consumers, House Republicans are enabling this predatory behavior and boosting the airlines’ bottom line. I will keep fighting to undo these industry rollbacks and help more Americans avoid junk fees, not fall prey to them.”