Advertisement

U.S. probes airlines over possible price-gouging after Amtrak crash

Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx says the government has opened a price-gouging investigation involving four airlines that allegedly raised airfares in the Northeast after May's Amtrak crash in Philadelphia.

Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx says the government has opened a price-gouging investigation involving four airlines that allegedly raised airfares in the Northeast after May’s Amtrak crash in Philadelphia.

(J. Scott Applewhite / Associated Press)
Share via

Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx announced Friday his department is opening an investigation into allegations of price gouging by five airlines after a deadly Amtrak crash curtailed train service for days in the Northeast.

The Transportation Department was sending letters Friday to Delta, American, United, Southwest and Jet Blue seeking information on allegations they “raised fees beyond what you’d normally expect,” Foxx said.

Victims of the Amtrak derailment: Who they were

Advertisement

The inquiry is separate from a Justice Department investigation already underway, he said.

“We have sufficient information to be concerned about it,” Foxx told reporters at a breakfast sponsored by the Christian Science Monitor.

The inquiry is “focused on getting to the bottom of whether unfair practices were involved in setting prices at that time.”

The May derailment in Philadelphia left eight dead, injured dozens and interrupted service for nearly a week.

Advertisement

NEWSLETTER: Get the day’s top headlines from Times Editor Davan Maharaj >>

ALSO:

Deadly train crash in Philadelphia ‘came out of nowhere’

Advertisement

Cheaper fuel helps Southwest, United report record quarterly profit

Aetna’s 21% rate hike amounts to ‘price gouging,’ California regulator says

Advertisement