The DOT will hold hearings on an airline merger.

The Transportation Department said that it will hold formal hearings on the proposed acquisition by USAir of Piedmont Aviation in order to review “competitive issues.” “Comments filed by the Justice Department, the states of New York, West Virginia and Massachusetts and other parties suggest that the acquisition may raise significant competitive issues,” the department said in a statement. USAir and Piedmont, which announced the proposed merger in March, deny that there are any serious competitive issues. The department announced that an administrative law judge will hear the case June 22 and issue a finding by Aug. 19.