Klobuchar promises hearings on the latest airline merger

WASHINGTON - The newly-announced merger of American Airlines and US Airways will get some scrutiny from a Senate subcommittee on antitrust policy chaired by DFL U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar.

Klobuchar recently took the gavel of the influential subcommittee. A hearing held by that committee in 2011 helped scuttle a planned merger between mobile phone companies AT&T and T-Mobile.

"During my time in the Senate I have worked hard to keep the airline industry competitive to make sure companies retain jobs, maintain service levels and keep prices low for travelers," said Klobuchar in a statement.

If approved by federal regulators, the merger would create the world's largest airline.

Klobuchar may come to the hearing with her views colored by Minnesota's experience after Delta Airlines merged with hometown Northwest Airlines. That union has led to job losses and service cutbacks in the Twin Cities.

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