GAO
25 June 2026
Robust competition in the airline industry can promote lower fares and give consumers more travel options and destinations. After multiple mergers from 2008-2013, 8 domestic airlines became the “Big Four.”
Most studies found that in the short run, these mergers decreased competition on some routes and led to higher fares. But, domestic airfares were generally lower in 2024 than 2 decades ago.
Lower-cost airlines that operate on a smaller scale face challenges, with rising costs disproportionately affecting them. They're also less able to raise supplemental revenue through airline credit cards...
