U.S. Says Airlines More Competitive When Deregulated

WASHINGTON — The airline industry offers more service to more cities and at lower cost than when it was under government regulation, Transportation Secretary Samuel K. Skinner said today in releasing an airline competition study.

Skinner said he would fight any attempts to re-regulate the industry, although he said the study shows “pockets of problems,” including some overcrowded airports and higher fares to and from some concentrated hub cities.

“How can you complain when 90% of the people in this country today are flying with discount fares?” Skinner asked at a news conference.

The 6-inch-thick report concluded that while the industry is more concentrated than it was before deregulation in 1978, the traveler is offered more frequent flights, a wider range of travel times and more travel options.