The Justice Department assured Sen. Grassley that is is "aggressively pursuing its airline investigations." In particular, Sen. Grassley said he was encouraged by the Justice Department's acknowledgment that airport gate and slot transactions can reduce competition and result in higher prices for consumers. The acting assistant attorney general wrote, "if such (significant) transactions threaten a reduction of competition the Department will move to stop them."
Based on input from Iowa airport managers and economic development leaders statewide, Sen. Grassley has identified long-term gate leasing agreements, exclusive gate arrangements, slot restrictions, and hub dominance as producing serious possible anti-competitive effects. He has urged the antitrust division at the Justice Department to review such restrictive practices for anti- competitive results.
Sen. Grassley serves as chairman of the Senate subcommittee charged with oversight of the Justice Department.
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