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                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SATURDAY, February 22, 1992                   TAG: 9202220269
SECTION: NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL                    PAGE: B7   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE: WASHINGTON                                LENGTH: Short

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HUB AIRPORT FARES HIGH, OFFICIALS TELL CONGRESS

Government officials told Congress on Friday that air fares are higher at hub airports where a dominant air line has little or no competition.

"There is a fare premium," at eight such airports, said Patrick Murphy, deputy assistant transportation secretary. "We agree that that phenomenon exists."

Charlotte, N.C.; Minneapolis; Cincinnati; St. Louis; Pittsburgh; Memphis, Tenn.; Salt Lake City, and Dayton, Ohio, all have airports dominated by one airline.

The General Accounting Office, an investigative arm of Congress, reported that fares are about 21 percent higher when one or two airlines dominate an airport.

"This should set off an alarm bell as to what might happen in other markets," said Sen. Joseph Lieberman, D-Conn.

- Associated Press

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