Barriers to Competition in the Airline Industry
T-RCED-89-66: Published: Sep 21, 1989. Publicly Released: Sep 21, 1989.
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GAO discussed its review of how airline operating and marketing practices could impose barriers to market entry for new or existing carriers. GAO noted that: (1) exclusive-use gate leases enabled incumbent airlines to prevent entrants from providing competitive service at existing gates; (2) some incumbent airlines' general use agreements allowed them to prevent new gate construction; (3) noise restrictions barred entry or raised entry costs at some airports; (4) some airports' density rules limited the availability of airport takeoff and landing slots for new entrants; (5) airline-owned computerized reservation systems, frequent-flyer plans, and bonus commissions for travel agents increased airlines' flight volumes; (6) code-sharing agreements which automatically connected jet and commuter carrier flights increased participating airlines' flight volumes; and (7) some airline practices which discouraged competition and new market entry also had such positive effects as cost reduction and noise control. GAO also noted that alternatives for reducing some practices' anti-competitive potential included: (1) abolishing airlines' long-term control over gate leases and slots; (2) reducing federal restrictions making airports dependent on airline revenues; and (3) exploring noise control strategies that minimized adverse effects on competition.
Jan 7, 2021
Aircraft Noise:
Better Information Sharing Could Improve Responses to Washington, D.C. Area Helicopter Noise ConcernsGAO-21-200: Published: Jan 7, 2021. Publicly Released: Jan 7, 2021.
Dec 18, 2020
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Automated Technologies:
DOT Should Take Steps to Ensure Its Workforce Has Skills Needed to Oversee SafetyGAO-21-197: Published: Dec 18, 2020. Publicly Released: Dec 18, 2020.
Dec 17, 2020
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Emergency Responder Safety:
States and DOT Are Implementing Actions to Reduce Roadside CrashesGAO-21-166: Published: Dec 17, 2020. Publicly Released: Dec 17, 2020.
Nov 24, 2020
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Reagan National Airport:
Information on Effects of Federal Statute Limiting Long-Distance FlightsGAO-21-176: Published: Nov 24, 2020. Publicly Released: Nov 24, 2020.
Nov 19, 2020
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Federal-Aid Highways:
States and Local Governments Reported Benefits to Federal Highway Fund Swapping, but Impacts Cannot be Definitively DeterminedGAO-21-88: Published: Oct 20, 2020. Publicly Released: Nov 19, 2020.
Nov 16, 2020
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Aviation Certification:
FAA Needs to Strengthen Its Design Review Process for Small AirplanesGAO-21-85: Published: Nov 16, 2020. Publicly Released: Nov 16, 2020.
Nov 9, 2020
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Aviation Safety:
FAA's Office of Aviation Safety Should Take Additional Actions to Ensure Its Workforce Has Needed SkillsGAO-21-94: Published: Nov 9, 2020. Publicly Released: Nov 9, 2020.
Oct 29, 2020
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Puerto Rico:
Perspectives on the Potential to Expand Air Cargo OperationsGAO-21-21: Published: Oct 29, 2020. Publicly Released: Oct 29, 2020.
Sep 30, 2020
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Supplemental Material For GAO-20-686:
Transit Asset Management: Survey of TAM Program ParticipantsGAO-20-687SP: Published: Sep 30, 2020. Publicly Released: Sep 30, 2020. -
Transit Asset Management:
FTA Should Clarify Performance Data and Develop a Plan to Guide Future Program ImprovementsGAO-20-686: Published: Sep 30, 2020. Publicly Released: Sep 30, 2020.
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