Kohl is chairman of the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Antitrust, Competition Policy and Consumer Rights  

WASHINGTON - Today, U.S. Senator Herb Kohl held a Senate Judiciary Antitrust Subcommittee field hearing in Milwaukee titled "The Southwest/AirTran Merger and its Impact on M-7 Businesses, Consumers and the Local Economy." The hearing examined the impact of the proposed merger on local communities.  AirTran in recent years has made Milwaukee one of its key hubs, and now has the largest share of the market of any airline serving Milwaukee.  AirTran serves 19 cities with nonstop service and carried over 2.6 million passengers in 2010, and has gained a 31% market share.    Southwest began service at Mitchell Airport in November 2009, and by now has achieved a 8% market share, carrying nearly 800,000 passengers in 2010.   

"The growth of air travel in recent years at Mitchell Airport has been essential for travelers throughout the Milwaukee region, and has been vital for our economic growth.   In these difficult economic times, it is critical that Milwaukee have convenient, reliable and inexpensive air service to other vital business centers. And vigorous airline competition has been the key to the growth of air service at Mitchell Airport," Kohl said.  

Kohl called the hearing to examine the effects of the loss of competition between Southwest and AirTran – who together have a nearly 40% market share at Mitchell Airport – and whether the deal could lead to higher fares, decreased quality of service or the loss of airline jobs in the Milwaukee area.  

Witnesses at the hearing included: Gary C. Kelly, Chairman, President & CEO of Southwest Airlines; Robert L. Fornaro, Chairman, President & CEO of AirTran Holdings Inc.; C. Barry Bateman, Airport Director at General Mitchell International Airport; Timothy R. Sheehy, President of the Metropolitan Milwaukee Association of Commerce; and Diana L. Moss, Director and Vice President of the American Antitrust Institute.