DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE LAUNCHES INVESTIGATION OF FOUR U.S. AIRLINES
August 6, 2015
The Department of Justice (DOJ) has launched an investigation into possible collusion among four U.S. airlines—American, Delta, Southwest and United. The airlines have confirmed that they have received civil investigative demands—essentially a civil subpoena—ordering them to turn over documents and other information to DOJ. The investigation appears to center around public comments made by certain airline executives about “capacity discipline” at the recent IATA Annual General Meeting in Miami. In June, Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) sent a letter to DOJ urging it to investigate this very topic. The Connecticut Attorney General has also launched a state investigation. The government investigations have resulted in nearly 40 class action lawsuits.
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