Is Seeking Monopoly the American Way?

Re “Airlines Fight for Space at Long Beach Airport,” April 2:

American Airlines seems to be repeating at Long Beach a move it made years earlier at John Wayne Airport. I guess every airline wants a monopoly if it can get it. American achieved a dominant position at John Wayne Airport by buying out one of the smaller airlines.

Also, I seem to recall that American voiced opposition to downwind, uphill takeoffs into the mountains when the anti-airport activists were complaining about the easterly departures from the planned El Toro international airport. Might that have been a move by American to protect its near-monopoly status? If so, I would say it is mischievous.

Donald Nyre

Newport Beach