Airline Competition:
Strategies for Addressing Financial and Competitive Problems in the Airline Industry
T-RCED-93-11: Published: Feb 18, 1993. Publicly Released: Feb 18, 1993.
Additional Materials:
- Full Report:
Contact:
GAO discussed the airline industry's competitive and financial problems, focusing on the: (1) protection of U.S. consumer interests; and (2) future ability of U.S. airlines to compete in domestic and international aviation markets. GAO noted that: (1) over the last 3 years, the U.S. airline industry's losses totalled $10 billion; (2) three airlines accounted for two-thirds of the total losses and $2 billion in losses resulted from changes in airline retiree benefits liability recording methods; (3) five airlines have experienced reductions in their market shares, while the three largest airlines have increased their market share from 41 to 58 percent; (4) airline losses resulted from leveraged buy-outs, ill-timed expansions, limited access to capital to further competition and replace older aircraft, unlimited fare wars, liquidation actions by bankrupt airlines, and competition limitation which increased consumer costs; and (5) to combat the airline industry's financial and competitive problems, a national strategy should be implemented to provide U.S. airlines with access to capital markets by relaxing restrictions on foreign investment and control, enhancing access to the international market, reducing barriers to domestic and international competition, and examining claims regarding unfair airline pricing practices.
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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