LAWMAKERS DEBATE BIPARTISAN AIRPORT GATE ACCESS PROPOSAL
December 22, 2025
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The U.S. Senate’s Subcommittee on Antitrust, Competition Policy, and Consumer Rights recently held a hearing on airline competition issues, including a bipartisan proposal to require all U.S. airports using federal grants to finance terminal construction projects to guarantee “reasonable access” to gates. The legislative proposal intends to prevent major U.S. air carriers from crowding out new entrant carriers seeking access to airport gates. Low-cost carriers, including Allegiant and Frontier, support the so-called Airport Gate Competition Act to thwart major U.S. air carriers from creating “fortress hubs” dominated by one carrier at the expense of low-cost competitors. Since four major carriers hold about 80 percent of the domestic market, airline competition advocates view airport gate access as a tool to increase competition, especially in emerging U.S. markets. If enacted into law, the legislation could prevent major U.S. air carriers from “gatekeeping” underused gates by implementing “use it or lose it” rules at most U.S. airports. The Act could also benefit foreign air carriers because it would require at least 25 percent of airport gates be available for “common use” and that no more than 50 percent of airport gates be reserved for a single carrier.
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