Pursuits

U.S. Looks at Airline Investors for Evidence of Fare Collusion

  • Yes, concludes a study being reviewed by antitrust officials
  • Justice Department asks about talks with top shareholders
Photographer: Tim Boyle/Bloomberg
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U.S. antitrust officials investigating whether the nation’s four largest airlines colluded on pricing are looking at executives’ communications -- not only with each other, but also with their biggest shareholders.

The Justice Department’s antitrust division has asked the carriers -- American Airlines Group Inc., United Continental Holdings Inc., Delta Air Lines Inc. and Southwest Airlines Co.-- for details about meetings with their major shareholders in which "industry capacity" was discussed, according to an official information request reviewed by Bloomberg News.