WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Justice Department's Antitrust Division and the Transportation Department said on Thursday they are launching a broad public inquiry into the state of competition in air travel.

President Joe Biden has made boosting airline competition a top priority and his administration has taken an aggressive approach to blocking consolidation efforts in the airline industry.

The Justice Department successfully sued to block JetBlue Airways' ( JBLU ) planned $3.8 billion acquisition of ultra-low-cost carrier Spirit Airlines ( SAVE ) and also went to court to force JetBlue ( JBLU ) to end its U.S. northeast partnership with American Airlines ( AAL ).