Dear new Congress, Don't forget travel competition

The Senate and House are in the midst of reorganization related to the changeover created by the last election. There are several issues that remain unresolved and some big ones coming up with the reauthorization of the Federal Aviation Administration bill that will be considered later this year.
Norwegian Air International approval
Theoretically, Congress should remain out of this issue. This deals with a treaty that has already been signed and that has been negotiated between the US and many countries. The approval process is clear and should have been completed months ago according to the European Union.
The Norwegian Air International (NAI) application for a foreign air carrier permit should be approved by the Department of Transportation (DOT). This airline will offer much needed competition for the current cabal of three international airline alliances that currently control more than 80 percent of the international market.
American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines are major players in Oneworld, SkiTeam and Star Alliance. British Airways and Iberia are teamed with American. Air France/KLM is teamed with Delta, and Lufthansa is teamed with United Airlines.
Though airlines and their unions claim that the introduction of NAI into the mix of transatlantic flights would have a devastating effect on US aviation jobs, that is not the case. The approval of this application will not only increase aviation jobs in the United States but it will add dramatically to travel and tourism jobs here in the US.

It is not the job of Congress to protect a small clique of aviation union jobs and a non-competitive airline industry that has done all it can to mislead and deceive the flying public, but has also begun to treat its customers inhumanly — eliminating leg space, making seats narrower, eliminating service. The current service provided by NAI’s parent company, Norwegian Air Shuttle between Europe and the US has already meant tens of thousands of new jobs for destinations such as Ft. Lauderdale, Orlando, New York City and Los Angeles.
Expanding international travel will provide thousands of jobs to airport workers, flight attendants (who will be hired and based here in the US), hotel and restaurant workers, Boeing and many others associated with travel and tourism. The airline union plea for denial of the NAI application is totally selfish and will only protect the unions’ interest and those of airlines who want to stifle competition.
Plus, the increase in economic activity will improve the balance of trade — another benefit for the US. Plus, our European Union allies all support the increase in transatlantic travel.
Airline battles to stop competition from Middle East airlines
Once again, the major airlines — American, Delta and United — are attempting to have the Open Skies Treaties revisited with the express purpose of stopping competition. These treaties have opened transportation between the US and many countries across the world. Currently, none of the US airlines serve these middle eastern markets directly, only through airline alliances.
The success of the middle eastern airlines has much to do with the changing patterns of the emerging middle class in the world. Today, southern Africa and southern Asia are the centers of the fastest growing middle classes in the world. Their growth and the growing industrial output from these part of the world have made Emirates, Etihad and Qatar airlines major players in moving international traffic.
And, the emergence of these middle eastern carriers has forced US legacy carriers to up their game when it comes to amenities for First, Business and Coach class passengers. This is exactly what competition should do.
Restriction of airfare publication
Travelers United believes that airfares are public information. Airlines are common carriers supported by billions of dollars in taxes and fees paid for by the taxpayers. Airlines offer their services to the entire public. Their prices, schedules and services are publicly available. Though airlines may have a legal right to sell their services through specific agents that they select, they do not have the right to restrict the distribution of their publicly available airfares and publicly advertised services.
Delta Air Lines, specifically, has removed their airfares from metasearch websites such as Hipmunk, TripAdvisor, Travelzoo, Skyscanner and some others. Their actions make it more difficult to comparison shop for the best airfares across airlines.
With only three major network carriers in the US having one airline pull their airfares creates a severe drop in competition and the ability of consumers to comparison shop. These airfares are public information and should be available without restriction to the public.
Delta, together with other airlines, has been refusing to disclose extra fees associated with airfares such as seat-reservation, checked-baggage, early-boarding and other fees. This is also anti-consumer and makes comparison shopping for the complete cost of travel more difficult for consumers.
Congress, DOT and DOJ must focus on maintaining competition and effective comparison shopping.
Norwegian Air International should be approved for service to the United States. Open Skies treaties across the world should be strengthened. And, airlines should be required to release their airfare and service data to the public.
With our consolidated airline industry, open competition is the only way that near monopoly powers can be limited and the public can have a way to effectively and efficiently comparison shop across airlines across the world.