WASHINGTON, Oct 24 (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 ).