DOCSLIB.ORG

Before the Department of Transportation Office of the Secretary Washington, D.C

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Before the Department of Transportation Office of the Secretary Washington, D.C BEFORE THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY WASHINGTON, D.C. Complaint of Spirit Airlines, Inc. For Investigation of the Joint Venture Agreements announced by American Airlines and JetBlue Airways Docket DOT-OST-2021-0001 Under 49 U.S.C. §§ 41712 as an Unfair Method of Competition SUPPLEMENT TO COMPLAINT BASED ON MARKET IMPLEMENTATION OF AMERICAN’S STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS Communications with respect to this document should be sent to: Joanne W. Young David M. Kirstein Kirstein & Young, PLLC 1750 K Street N.W. Suite 700 Washington, D.C. 20006 (202) 331-3348 [email protected] [email protected] Counsel for Spirit Airlines, Inc. May 12, 2021 TABLE OF CONTENTS I. Ninety-six percent (96%) of NEA codeshares overlap at airports with American-Alaska codeshares, enabling marketing advantages and facilitating anticompetitive conduct throughout the country ........................ 4 a. American has secured unique and never-reviewed unfair competitive advantages by linking its two Strategic Partnerships throughout the largest domestic air travel markets ....................................................................................... 5 b. Market activity suggests anticompetitive price-signaling is already occurring in markets covered by the Strategic Partnerships’ codeshares ................................ 8 c. American has expressly identified its plans to leverage its Strategic Partnerships to dominate markets nationwide ....................................................... 10 II. Nearly 50% of all FAA slots are being leveraged by American and JetBlue to stifle competition at access-restricted airports and beyond ..... 13 a. The American-JetBlue slot and gate cache allows them to forego innovation and dominate markets by increasing service beyond what is possible for other airlines ...................................................................................................................... 14 b. American and JetBlue are promising higher fares and underserved demand to shareholders and financial analysts based on their coast-to-coast market domination from access-restricted airports ............................................................. 18 c. Tacit coordination outside NEA markets is allowed and presents a serious flaw that could have been identified through public input ..................................... 21 III. Much is still unknown about American’s Strategic Partnerships – the NEA conditions fail to address even the known concerns.............................. 22 BEFORE THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY WASHINGTON, D.C. Complaint of Spirit Airlines, Inc. For Investigation of the Joint Venture Agreements announced by American Airlines and JetBlue Airways Docket DOT-OST-2021-0001 Under 49 U.S.C. §§ 41712 as an Unfair Method of Competition SUPPLEMENT TO COMPLAINT BASED ON MARKET IMPLEMENTATION OF AMERICAN’S STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIPS The need to supplement Spirit’s complaint arises from apparent unfair methods of competition by American, through its alliances with JetBlue and Alaska Airlines to coordinate air service and pricing to the detriment of travelers and competition, contrary to the public interest as defined in the policy statement of the Airline Deregulation Act, 49 U.S.C. §40101. American’s “Strategic Partnerships” with JetBlue and Alaska Airlines are the ultimate result of the former Secretary’s refusal to seek public comment and instead use a secretive review process to approve the Northeast Alliance (NEA) on her last day in office. Encouraged by the previous administration’s unjustified sign off on the NEA, American – together with the fifth and sixth largest airlines, Alaska and JetBlue – now seems emboldened to further erode competition in an already highly- Supplement to Complaint Based on Market Implementation of American’s Strategic Partnerships Docket DOT-OST-2021-0001 May 12, 2021 Page 2 consolidated air travel industry. Significantly, American-JetBlue codeshares overlap at a near 100% rate with airports covered by American-Alaska codeshares. And flights combining routes across these now intertwined Strategic Partnership networks are already being sold by American – directly undermining the Congressionally-imposed pro-competitive policy the Secretary by law is required to consider.1 The Strategic Partnerships amplify the NEA’s anticompetitive harms and allow American to dominate hundreds and potentially thousands of markets beyond what was previously expected. The blatant actions of these carriers to reshape competition using publicly-owned but highly-constrained resources (including at all Level 2 and Level 3 airports as well as at Washington Reagan and Boston Logan) underscore the immediate need for an investigation with public participation pursuant to the DOT’s statutorily assigned authority under 49 U.S.C. § 41712. Through this deepening market consolidation, American can now raise prices, limit true competition by the subservice carriers (Alaska and JetBlue), and block new entry at New York, Boston, and Washington Reagan airports. While American implements this game plan with its willing partners, there is not even a hint in the DOT-American-JetBlue Agreement that these grave concerns were considered. A public input process would certainly have identified these anticompetitive harms 1 49 U.S.C. §40101. (“In carrying out subpart II of this part… the Secretary… shall consider the following matters, among others, as being in the public interest….” (emphasis added)). Supplement to Complaint Based on Market Implementation of American’s Strategic Partnerships Docket DOT-OST-2021-0001 May 12, 2021 Page 3 along with the restrictions necessary to mitigate their negative impact on the traveling public. Congress exclusively committed to the Secretary of Transportation responsibility under 49 U.S.C. §41712 to investigate in the public interest, on the Secretary’s own initiative or on complaint by another airline, unfair methods of competition specific to the commercial air transportation industry. This public interest review includes practices encompassing incipient anticompetitive behavior beyond actions directly violating the Sherman or Clayton acts.2 The Department’s industry expertise and ability to seek public input on competitive concerns is not held by any other state or federal investigative body. The Department must use these unmatched resources to protect the traveling public from the harms posed by the Strategic Partnerships agreements. It bears emphasis that the Department recognized immediate scrutiny might be required when it included Section VII. C. in the DOT-American-JetBlue Agreement which specifically affirms DOT’s ability to exercise its statutory (§ 41712) and regulatory authority to investigate anything American and JetBlue might do contrary to the public interest. 2 Pan American World Airways, Inc. v. United States, 371 US 296, 307(1963) (“The provision was designed to supplement the Sherman Act by stopping ‘in their incipiency those methods of competition which fall within the meaning of the word ‘unfair.’…Whatever the unfair practice or unfair method employed, §411 of this Act [(now 49 U.S.C. § 41712)]…was designed to bolster and strengthen anti-trust enforcement.” (internal citations omitted)). This authority was directly carried over by Congress in the Airline Deregulation Act. Supplement to Complaint Based on Market Implementation of American’s Strategic Partnerships Docket DOT-OST-2021-0001 May 12, 2021 Page 4 The obligation to hold a robust investigation – where public comment is invited and results in a reasoned decision – is made manifest by the fact that Spirit’s complaint is supported by stakeholders representing all major segments of the industry, labor, and the public. This is reflected in the filings by Southwest Airlines, the National Air Carrier Association, United Airlines, virtually all U.S. airports through ACI-NA, the American Antitrust Institute, airport workers through the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), and travelers through public interest groups including Travelers United. Not one non-party filing has been submitted opposing Spirit’s request for an on-the-record investigation. I. Ninety-six percent (96%) of NEA codeshares overlap at airports with American-Alaska codeshares, enabling marketing advantages and facilitating anticompetitive conduct throughout the country As a result of not instituting an on-the-record proceeding, the Department apparently failed to consider – and certainly to publicly address – a key aspect of the NEA: American’s expansive codeshare partnership with Alaska Airlines, creating overlap for 96% of American-JetBlue codeshares and 77% of American-Alaska codeshares at airports across the country.3 The Department’s analysis in the review of the Delta/Continental/Northwest alliance agreements established a roadmap for assessing American’s expansive codeshare network created by linking flights operated by Alaska and JetBlue: Here, … multiple carriers would join forces in many different ways, making it extremely difficult … for other 3 See Exhibit 3. Supplement to Complaint Based on Market Implementation of American’s Strategic Partnerships Docket DOT-OST-2021-0001 May 12, 2021 Page 5 carriers to respond effectively, and thus forcing those competing carriers to exit some markets. Unaligned carriers could be particularly vulnerable to the unprecedented market power of the … alliance, and many could be weakened or cease to exist. … [P]otential harm would result primarily
Load more

Recommended publications
  • WASHINGTON AVIATION SUMMARY October 2011 EDITION
    WASHINGTON AVIATION SUMMARY October 2011 EDITION CONTENTS I. REGULATORY NEWS................................................................................................ 1 II. AIRPORTS.................................................................................................................. 6 III. SECURITY AND DATA PRIVACY ……………………… ……………………….….…...8 IV. E-COMMERCE AND TECHNOLOGY....................................................................... 10 V. ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT............................................................................... 12 VI. U.S. CONGRESS...................................................................................................... 14 VII. BILATERAL AND STATE DEPARTMENT NEWS .................................................... 15 VIII. EUROPE/AFRICA..................................................................................................... 16 IX. ASIA/PACIFIC/MIDDLE EAST .................................................................................18 X. AMERICAS ............................................................................................................... 20 For further information, including documents referenced, contact: Joanne W. Young Kirstein & Young PLLC 1750 K Street NW Suite 200 Washington, D.C. 20006 Telephone: (202) 331-3348 Fax: (202) 331-3933 Email: [email protected] http://www.yklaw.com The Kirstein & Young law firm specializes in representing U.S. and foreign airlines, airports, leasing companies, financial institutions and aviation-related
    [Show full text]
  • Business & Commercial Aviation
    BUSINESS & COMMERCIAL AVIATION LEONARDO AW609 PERFORMANCE PLATEAUS OCEANIC APRIL 2020 $10.00 AviationWeek.com/BCA Business & Commercial Aviation AIRCRAFT UPDATE Leonardo AW609 Bringing tiltrotor technology to civil aviation FUEL PLANNING ALSO IN THIS ISSUE Part 91 Department Inspections Is It Airworthy? Oceanic Fuel Planning Who Says It’s Ready? APRIL 2020 VOL. 116 NO. 4 Performance Plateaus Digital Edition Copyright Notice The content contained in this digital edition (“Digital Material”), as well as its selection and arrangement, is owned by Informa. and its affiliated companies, licensors, and suppliers, and is protected by their respective copyright, trademark and other proprietary rights. Upon payment of the subscription price, if applicable, you are hereby authorized to view, download, copy, and print Digital Material solely for your own personal, non-commercial use, provided that by doing any of the foregoing, you acknowledge that (i) you do not and will not acquire any ownership rights of any kind in the Digital Material or any portion thereof, (ii) you must preserve all copyright and other proprietary notices included in any downloaded Digital Material, and (iii) you must comply in all respects with the use restrictions set forth below and in the Informa Privacy Policy and the Informa Terms of Use (the “Use Restrictions”), each of which is hereby incorporated by reference. Any use not in accordance with, and any failure to comply fully with, the Use Restrictions is expressly prohibited by law, and may result in severe civil and criminal penalties. Violators will be prosecuted to the maximum possible extent. You may not modify, publish, license, transmit (including by way of email, facsimile or other electronic means), transfer, sell, reproduce (including by copying or posting on any network computer), create derivative works from, display, store, or in any way exploit, broadcast, disseminate or distribute, in any format or media of any kind, any of the Digital Material, in whole or in part, without the express prior written consent of Informa.
    [Show full text]
  • Airline Competition Plan Final Report
    Final Report Airline Competition Plan Philadelphia International Airport Prepared for Federal Aviation Administration in compliance with requirements of AIR21 Prepared by City of Philadelphia Division of Aviation Philadelphia, Pennsylvania August 31, 2000 Final Report Airline Competition Plan Philadelphia International Airport Prepared for Federal Aviation Administration in compliance with requirements of AIR21 Prepared by City of Philadelphia Division of Aviation Philadelphia, Pennsylvania August 31, 2000 SUMMARY S-1 Summary AIRLINE COMPETITION PLAN Philadelphia International Airport The City of Philadelphia, owner and operator of Philadelphia International Airport, is required to submit annually to the Federal Aviation Administration an airline competition plan. The City’s plan for 2000, as documented in the accompanying report, provides information regarding the availability of passenger terminal facilities, the use of passenger facility charge (PFC) revenues to fund terminal facilities, airline leasing arrangements, patterns of airline service, and average airfares for passengers originating their journeys at the Airport. The plan also sets forth the City’s current and planned initiatives to encourage competitive airline service at the Airport, construct terminal facilities needed to accommodate additional airline service, and ensure that access is provided to airlines wishing to serve the Airport on fair, reasonable, and nondiscriminatory terms. These initiatives are summarized in the following paragraphs. Encourage New Airline Service Airlines that have recently started scheduled domestic service at Philadelphia International Airport include AirTran Airways, America West Airlines, American Trans Air, Midway Airlines, Midwest Express Airlines, and National Airlines. Airlines that have recently started scheduled international service at the Airport include Air France and Lufthansa. The City intends to continue its programs to encourage airlines to begin or increase service at the Airport.
    [Show full text]
  • International Tariff General Rules Applicable to the Transportation Of
    1 Egypt Air International Tariff INTERNATIONAL TARIFF GENERAL RULES APPLICABLE TO THE TRANSPORTATION OF PASSENGERS AND BAGGAGE ____________________________________ Issue DEC 15 2019 2 Egypt Air International Tariff TABLE OF CONTENTS: PAGE RULE 1 - DEFINITIONS………………………………………………………………………………………………………………..3 RULE 5 - APPLICATION OF TARIFF………………………………………………………………………………………………17 RULE 10 – RESERVATION AND SEAT SELECTION…………………………………………………………………………20 RULE 15 – CURRENCY OF PAYMENT………………………………………………………………………………………….27 RULE 20 – TAXES, FEES AND OTHER CHARGES…………………………………………………………………………..29 RULE 25 – TICKETS…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….29 RULE 30 – FARE BRANDS, CLASSES OF SERVICE AND UPGARDES……………………………………………….32 RULE 35 – PERSONAL DATA ………………………………………………………………………………………………………37 RULE 40 – PASSENGER WITH DISABILITY ………………………………………………………………………………….39 RULE 45 – OXYGEN SERVICE AND PERSONAL OXYGEN CONCENTRATORS………………………………….44 RULE 50 - UNACCOMPANIED MINORS AND INFANTS…………………………………………………………………46 RULE 55 – PETS AND ANIMALS………………………………………………………………………………………………….49 RULE 60 – BAGGAGE…………………………………………………………………………………………………………………56 RULE 61 – INTERLINE BAGGAGE ACCECPTANCE…………………………………………………………………………79 RULE 65 – ADMINSTARIVE FORMALIITES………………………………………………………………………………….82 RULE 70 – CHECK-IN AND BOARDING TIME LIMITS……………………………………………………………………84 RULE 75 – REFUSAL TO TRANSPORT………………………………………………………………………………………….85 RULE 80 – SCHEDULE IRREUGLARITIES……………………………………………………………………………………….90 RULE 85 – VOLUNATRY CHANGES AND REROUTING………………………………………………………………….94 RULE
    [Show full text]
  • BAGGAGE ALLOWANCE for Worldskills Kazan 2019 Participants and Guests
    BAGGAGE ALLOWANCE For WorldSkills Kazan 2019 Participants and Guests CONTENTS CONTENTS ........................................................................................................................................................ 2 INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................................................................ 3 INITIAL INFORMATION ..................................................................................................................................... 4 AEROFLOT RUSSIAN AIRLINES ........................................................................................................................ 5 S7 AIRLINES ...................................................................................................................................................... 8 UTAIR COMPANY ............................................................................................................................................. 9 TURKISH AIRLINES ......................................................................................................................................... 12 FINNAIR AIRLINES .......................................................................................................................................... 13 AIR BALTIC ...................................................................................................................................................... 15 CZECH AIRLINES ............................................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • 21 December 2020 Case No.: 2018-AIR-00041 in the Matter Of
    U.S. Department of Labor Office of Administrative Law Judges 2 Executive Campus, Suite 450 Cherry Hill, NJ 08002 (856) 486-3800 (856) 486-3806 (FAX) Issue Date: 21 December 2020 Case No.: 2018-AIR-00041 In the Matter of KARLENE PETITT Complainant v. DELTA AIR LINES, INC. Respondent DECISION AND ORDER GRANTING RELIEF This matter arises under the Wendell H. Ford Aviation Investment and Reform Act for the 21st Century (“AIR 21”), which was signed into law on April 5, 2000. See 49 U.S.C. § 42121. The Act includes a whistleblower protection provision, with a Department of Labor complaint procedure. Implementing regulations are at 29 C.F.R. Part 1979, published at 68 Fed. Reg. 14,100 (Mar. 21, 2003). The Decision and Order that follows is based on an analysis of the record, including items not specifically addressed the arguments of the parties, and the applicable law. I. PROCEDURAL BACKGROUND Complainant filed an AIR 21 complaint with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (“OSHA”) on June 6, 2016. In its July 13, 2018 letter, OSHA, acting on behalf of the Secretary, found that the parties are covered under the Act, but there was insufficient evidence to establish reasonable cause that a violation occurred. Accordingly, OSHA dismissed the complaint. On August 1, 2018, Complainant objected to OSHA’s findings and requested a formal hearing before the Office of Administrative Law Judges. Subsequently, on August 27, 2018, this matter was assigned to the undersigned. On August 28, 2018, this Tribunal issued the Notice of Assignment and Conference Call. Complainant responded to the Notice of Assignment by letter dated September 6, 2018, and attached her statement, which was originally transmitted as part of her Complaint to OSHA.
    [Show full text]
  • Garmin Reveals Autoland Feature Rotorcraft Industry Slams Possible by Matt Thurber NYC Helo Ban Page 45
    PUBLICATIONS Vol.50 | No.12 $9.00 DECEMBER 2019 | ainonline.com Flying Short-field landings in the Falcon 8X page 24 Regulations UK Labour calls for bizjet ban page 14 Industry Forecast sees deliveries rise in 2020 page 36 Gratitude for Service Honor flight brings vets to D.C. page 41 Air Transport Lion Air report cites multiple failures page 51 Rotorcraft Garmin reveals Autoland feature Industry slams possible by Matt Thurber NYC helo ban page 45 For the past eight years, Garmin has secretly Mode. The Autoland system is designed to Autoland and how it works, I visited been working on a fascinating new capabil- safely fly an airplane from cruising altitude Garmin’s Olathe, Kansas, headquarters for ity, an autoland function that can rescue an to a suitable runway, then land the airplane, a briefing and demo flight in the M600 with airplane with an incapacitated pilot or save apply brakes, and stop the engine. Autoland flight test pilot and engineer Eric Sargent. a pilot when weather conditions present can even switch on anti-/deicing systems if The project began in 2011 with a Garmin no other safe option. Autoland should soon necessary. engineer testing some algorithms that could receive its first FAA approval, with certifi- Autoland is available for aircraft manu- make an autolanding possible, and in 2014 cation expected shortly in the Piper M600, facturers to incorporate in their airplanes Garmin accomplished a first autolanding in followed by the Cirrus Vision Jet. equipped with Garmin G3000 avionics and a Columbia 400 piston single. In September The Garmin Autoland system is part of autothrottle.
    [Show full text]
  • Processing Logic Format
    DATA APPLICATION BAGGAGE ALLOWANCE AND CHARGES IN OPTIONAL SERVICES SUB CODE SERVICES RECORD S5 The information contained in this document is the property of ATPCO. No part of this document may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form, or by any means; mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the prior written permission of ATPCO. Under the law, copying includes translating into another language or format. Legal action will be taken against any infringement Copyright ©2008 by Airline Tariff Publishing Company All rights reserved. DATA APPLICATION FOR BAGGAGE ALLOWANCE AND CHARGES IN OPTIONAL SERVICES SUB CODE SERVICES RECORD S5 Contents 1.0 OVERVIEW .............................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 4 1.1 DATA REQUIREMENTS ............................................................................................................................................................................................................ 5 1.2 BASIC PROCESSING OVERVIEW ............................................................................................................................................................................................... 6 2.0 DEFINITIONS AND ASSUMPTIONS ..................................................................................................................................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Delta Airlines Baggage Policy Domestic Flights
    Delta Airlines Baggage Policy Domestic Flights Aube usually reactivates undeniably or swindles generically when guest Rudd rataplans far and geometricallyblindfold. Brahmanic as homodont Hiralal Hagenulcerating larrup demonstrably. beneficially andMerwin stabilise is stony-broke dexterously. and repackage Note include this calculator only applies to domestic flights. 50 aircraft and flies to around 120 international and domestic destinations. As long as the infant cannot be on a lap then another pope for domestic flights. Every year US airlines collect billions of dollars in baggage fees. What peddle my carry carry is an arrogant too big? How thick is Delta with pearl on size? Allow you should not have airlines? Baggage FAQs Delta. Are there fees for baggage on Delta Airlines SeatGuru. No matter you you're traveling there's at good chance when can eat a Delta flight create a reasonable price When flying with Delta or any airline if it's. The Delta Airlines baggage policy includes the Carry-on baggage. Both hard to international flights may find your luggage policy, vary depending on most flights originating from south america, loan provision push of delta airlines baggage policy. You'll find Delta Airlines's pet cover for travel in the currency and baggage area here. Delta Notes All information is for US to Europe flights Basic Economy class. Delta eliminates extra fees for sports equipment such as bikes. Purse carry-on restrictions Keep the 3-1-1 rule in post when packing your purse for the trip Make sure hand sanitizer liquid makeup toothpaste and deer other non-solid items you carry just your basket are in 34-ounce or smaller containers and age a clear plastic zip-top bag.
    [Show full text]
  • The Future of Airline Distribution, 2016 - 2021
    The Future of Airline Distribution, 2016 - 2021 By Henry H. Harteveldt, Atmosphere Research Group CONTENTS 3 INTRODUCTION 5 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY 7 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 9 HOW SHOULD AIRLINES PREPARE TO SERVE THE AIRLINE TRAVELER OF 2021? 26 TECHNOLOGY INNOVATION AND THE EVOLVING TECHNOLOGY LANDSCAPE 29 AIRLINE DISTRIBUTION IN 2021 70 CONCLUSION 72 ENDNOTES © 2016 International Air Transport Association. All rights reserved. 2 INTRODUCTION Introduction from Atmosphere Research Atmosphere Research Group is honored to have Airlines that want to become true retailers are once again been selected by IATA to prepare this well-positioned to do so. Carriers have an abun- report on the future of airline distribution. We dance of technologies, including cloud comput- believe that the five-year timeframe this report ing, artificial intelligence, and mobility, that they covers – 2016 to 2021 – will see the successful can use to help them bring their products to mar- introduction of true retailing among the world’s ket in more meaningful ways. IATA’s NDC, One airlines and their distribution partners. Order, and NGISS initiatives are being brought to market to help airlines be more successful busi- This report reflects Atmosphere Research’s in- nesses. As each airline independently contem- dependent and objective analysis based on our plates its distribution strategies and tactics, we extensive industry and consumer research (for hope this report will serve as a helpful resource. more information about how the research was conducted, please refer to the “Research Method- ology” section). © 2016 International Air Transport Association. All rights reserved. 3 Future of Distribution Report 2016-2021 Introduction from IATA In 2012 IATA commissioned Atmosphere Research Game changes are prompted by consumer needs, to conduct a survey on the Future of Airline Dis- or by the ability to offer new solutions.
    [Show full text]
  • Checked Baggage Size Requirements
    Checked Baggage Size Requirements WhenFilmiest Elmore Aylmer excused redding his extempore cenospecies and tactically,wainscoting she not dissatisfies languidly herenough, indicium is Uriah civilise conversational? complicatedly. Tall intransitive.Price outjockeys no bullheads overtaxes defensively after Quigman recant controvertibly, quite Forbidden from rain and easily manage travel profile to applicable only letters and glass products from online with each checked baggage Pressione a tecla TAB para acessar os outros tipos de promoções. Debe aceptar la condición del motivo del reembolso para poder continuar con la solicitud. Additional baggage allowance to a car rental costs for american airlines shall only care what can i use it has its usage. Check this is a valid date. Pet carriers are nonrefundable. View your needs to have questions is required medical form has your nearest finnair plus. Extra baggage is idle to availability. United Club lounge access. If all checked baggage size requirements of size? You check baggage size, checking excess baggage loss of similar to be required information is. Extra bag rates differ per route. Silver Airways as every first operating carrier. All current requirements on the convict of lithium batteries apply to the release of Smart Bags. Change your reservation or order additional services. The instrument must be packaged correctly to place it safely in the seat. Los angeles to resolve this is bad quality, other requirements may find out our checked baggage size requirements, flight is usually bring a summary of benefits. Card details of volume of horizn go through a required field is now leaving this? The event origin claim was later found.
    [Show full text]
  • Google-ITA AAI White Paper2.18.11
    AN EXAMINATION OF THE ANTITRUST ISSUES POSED BY GOOGLE’S ACQUISITION OF ITA Randy Stutz* February 18, 2011 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The proposed merger between Google and ITA Software, Inc. (ITA) offers antitrust enforcers the latest in a series of escalating challenges in which high technology markets seem to be straining the boundaries of antitrust analysis. Apart from the very difficult analysis, however, this transaction raises broader questions of competition policy concerning Google’s rapid growth as a one-of-a-kind firm. The deal might even have implications for the future of airline ticket distribution. In this white paper, the American Antitrust Institute (AAI) seeks to identify and explore both the narrow and broad competition issues that are raised by a Google/ITA combination. In the narrowest sense, acquiring ITA would put Google in the business of supplying a technology input that powers downstream products in a vertical online search market. That is, Google would own what many consider to be the premier technology that online travel agents, travel meta-search websites, and airline websites license from ITA to afford Internet users the ability to search real-time pricing and seat availability data in the course of shopping for airline tickets online. Neither Google nor ITA currently competes in the provision of this data to Internet users by “online travel search” firms, but together they seem to have such firms surrounded. Companies like Kayak, Orbitz and Hotwire, as well as airlines, rely heavily on Google to tell consumers where they can get airline pricing and availability data on the Internet, and they rely heavily on ITA to deliver the data itself.
    [Show full text]