I was wondering the same thing. This merger leaves DAL, UAL and American as the major players. This might put the heat on for the race for Alaska....

Well it means there will be four. AMR needs a partner or two. We need one or two to tie up the west, and LUV needs AAI.

It would rationalize this industry for the better.

So now Ual/Cal are going to be the worlds largest airline. Guess we need to change the American Express Skymiles card commercial.:rolleyes:

Ah yes sipping a cocktail and enjoying the last few hours of being the world's largest airline. It was good while it lasted. Now there is another company in the cross hairs.:D

Good idea, having a cocktail. It's just crazy enough to work... It'll help ease the gutt-wrenching pain of becoming the "world's second largest airline".

Oh, the agony!

I'm just wondering where or even if the DOJ puts a stop to the M&A action?

My bet, 3.5 legacy carriers (LCC=.5) is okay with them as long as there is 3.5 low-cost carriers or equally priced carriers as well. I don't think they're going to be very inviting to future low cost carriers and of course who is going to loan them the money anyways?

I think despite populist talk, this DOJ et. al. does not have a problem with less competition as things get out of hand and out of their control. Its easy to call 3 CEOs and demand something, and get it, then it is to call 8 CEOs.

I've kind of noticed we hadn't talked the "world's largest" up as much as we could've. I wonder if they just knew it wasn't going to be worth the marketing investment.

Interesting that they are going to be the 'worlds largest.'

CAL and UAL have quite a bit fewer pilots as well as aircraft...

Nevermind....

Was having this discussion the other night deadheading with some of my FNWA brothers to DTW. What's the qualifier? Most pilots? Most aircraft? Most employees? Most routes? We came to the very uneducated decision that it must be decided by most pilots. We also agreed that the real benchmark is most routes and overall employees.

One might be the "world's largest airline" and own less jets, have less employees, but claim more destinations. I can't see how the UA/CAL merger would trump the new DAL.