Hatch threatens suit if airline merger takes place

ST. PAUL (AP) -- Minnesota Attorney General Mike Hatch said Wednesday that he would file a lawsuit if the proposed merger happens between United Airlines-US Airways.

Although 19 states are working together to determine if the merger ultimately would harm consumers, Hatch is the first state attorney general to publicly say he would sue if the deal goes through.

A congressional investigation last year showed such a merger likely would be detrimental to far more of America's flying public than it would benefit.

The General Accounting Office study also found the $4.3 billion deal, which would allow United, already the world's largest carrier, to dwarf by far its next-largest competitor and would touch off other airline mergers.