Aviation reports from the US Government Accountability Office

Amongst the many recent reports and testimony produced by the United States Government Accountability Office (US GAO - described as the investigative arm of Congress) there are a couple that I found to be of particular interest:

• AIRLINE INDUSTRY - Potential Mergers and Acquisitions Driven by Financial and Competitive Pressures from July 2008 (.pdf, 51 pages)

The focus is on the US domestic air transport market but the report is of wider relevance.

• AVIATION AND THE ENVIRONMENT - NextGen and Research and Development Are Keys to Reducing Emissions and Their Impact on Health and Climate from May 2008 (.pdf, 37 pages)

The GAO notes that its is "... currently undertaking ... a study of the EU emissions trading system and its potential impact on U.S. airlines, and other issues relating to aviation and climate change."

A couple of years ago the GAO commented on the idea of reregulating the US airline industry:

• AIRLINE DEREGULATION - Reregulating the Airline Industry Would Likely Reverse Consumer Benefits and Not Save Airline Pensions from June 2006 (.pdf, 44 pages)