Colorado Attorney General Investigates United

[USA320Pilot]

Colorado attorney general investigates United-United Express contracts

Attorney General: “Plan to build a new regional-jet terminal for United at Denver International Airport might perpetuate a "monopoly over regional air serviceâ€￾

DENVER (AP) - The Colorado attorney general is investigating whether some United Airlines practices are stifling competition in the state, a newspaper reported.

Complete Story: http://www.boston.com/business/articles/20...ines_contracts/[/URL]

 

[RowUnderDCA]

Geee-

I think it's a matter of debate as to whether or not a Federally-obligated airport, like DIA, can say NO to a request for available capacity for an airline based SOLEY on it's conclusion that it's anti-competitive.

I for one wish that it would not be allowed.

However, there are a lot of ways to spin this. And the economics and financing of assignable commercial space at major airports is evolving.

But if UAL were to say, we'd like to PAY for an improvement to DIA that is perfectly consistent with the airports Master Plan and Airport Layout Plan and the Airport says, "no." They'd have to have a good reason. Perhaps this state involvement is designed to lay the legal ground work for saying 'no' because it's anti-competitive.

There are folks in the DOT who can't stand that the airline industry isn't regulated anymore, but, I'd hope they'd see the folly in letting individual local governments form Denver to Harrisburg do it.

But, actual financial liabilities that DIA's sponsor simply does not want to take on, if not made up out of thin air, might be enought to determine that they don't have to provide this development.

However, if UAL were to say, we'll take a ground lease and develop the whole thing at our expense AND provide generous occupancy and control rights back to DIA, I'd argue that DIA can't say no, just because they don't like UAL.