"In recent months, I've received an increasing number of complaints from air travelers and businesses about inordinately high airfares, possible predatory pricing and infrequent flights," said Grassley. "Open competition is especially important to small and mid-sized airports." Grassley said that if predatory pricing practices are driving fair air competetion away from Iowa, "it's nothing less than skyway robbery."
Grassley said he will visit the communities of Waterloo, Dubuque, Burlington, Des Moines, Cedar Rapids, and Sioux City to meet with airport managers and business and community leaders to discuss what role Congress should take in correcting the growing problem of access to affordable air travel. Specifically, Grassley will seek a dialogue on the possible repercussions of the new airline alliances on competition, the effectiveness of the proposed Department of Transportation (DoT) guidelines in dealing with predatory pricing, and whether there should be reform of the existing slot system at controlled airports. The slot system is important because it limits the number of take-offs and landings which can occur at certain major airports, thereby hindering the ability of smaller airports and airlines to provide adequate service to these cities. Grassley said he also plans to gather input on non-legislative solutions to airfare pricing and service problems.
As a senior member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, Grassley last year requested the Justice Department investigate the possibility of predatory pricing actions in Des Moines and other Iowa communities. In addition, Grassley participated in two recent Senate hearings on antitrust and competition where he questioned DoT and the Justice Department about their responsibilities of enforcement in this area, especially concerning competitive air fares.
"I look forward to a productive series of meetings on this important economic issue. The growth potential of many of our communities depends directly on having access to reasonably priced and reliable air travel," said Grassley. "These meetings will help make the concerns of Iowans a top priority in any legislation which comes before Congress."
The meetings are closed to the public. For fifteen minutes following each of the meetings, Grassley and the other participants will be available to answer questions from the local media. A schedule of the meetings follows.
Friday, May 1, 1998
Waterloo Municipal Airport
8:00 - 9:15 a.m.
Dubuque Regional Airport
10:15 - 11:30 a.m.
Burlington Regional Airport
12:45 - 2:00 p.m.
Des Moines International Airport
3:15 - 4:30 p.m.
Saturday, May 2, 1998
The Eastern Iowa Airport
Cedar Rapids
12:00 - 1:15 p.m.
Sioux Gateway Airport
Sioux City
3:00 - 4:15 p.m.