Jim Inhofe: “Section 606 subparagraph (6) of S. 2279 will have the unintended consequences of limiting competition at Chicago's…”

“Section 606 subparagraph (6) of S. 2279 will have the unintended consequences of limiting competition at Chicago's O'Hare airport. I have spoke at length with Senators Lott, McCain, and Ford regarding my concerns with this provision and understand that it may be possible to correct this problem in conference. I hope that is the case. This provision will allow those carriers who have lost landing/ takeoff slots to foreign air carriers at Chicago's O'Hare to get them back. On the surface this seems very fair; however, it will in fact unfairly favor the largest slot holder at O'Hare at the expense of other competitors and new entrants. Because the dominant carrier at O'Hare has lost the most slots, it stands to gain the most. The result will be less competition rather than more at O'Hare.”