In fact (I'm not sure about this), has there ever been a merger allowed between two top six major airlines when both were making money? The only big airline mergers I can think of have occurred when the one being acquired was deep in chapter 11 and about to go out of business (TWA, Pan Am, Eastern, USAir, etc.).

Here is a good review of what congress was thinking and doing just seven short years ago the last time the industry was "healthy" right before 9/11. It wouldn't surprise me to see some of this legislation dusted off and reconsidered.

http://democrats.senate.gov/~dpc/pubs/107-1-143.html

http://online.wsj.com/articles/business_world

another interesting perspective...

Good info, minor footnote, TWA was not in BK when they agree to be bought by AMR. AMR made it part of the deal to eject Carl Icahn and the high aircraft lease payments. In the BK preceedings, AMR was successful on both accounts. I know it's a "so what" footnote, but it's an accurate one.

Again, thx for your info,

FF

I wonder if the Delta-Western merger would fit your criteria? Neither one was in bankruptcy or even close to it, as I recall.

I don't think these mergers will be the companies we see today. Someone is going to get broken into pieces. Parts will be shed and auctioned.

I agree that TWA is a good example.

Mergers may never happen, but if they do, I believe someone's seniority list is going to be wearing more than one colour of uniform,

The one company I could see that happening to is United. Management would say it is all to "maximize shareholder value".

But left unsaid is that it would also maximize their pockets.

I have to respectfully disagree with all who believe the DOJ will stop a merger. This is not the industry of the past. The Low Cost Carriers are big enough to keep domestic prices competative. Open Skies unfortunately will have the same effect on the international markets. So the old argument of a merger preventing competative prices just doesn't work any more. The only Washington friction you will see in my opinion is from Congressmen trying to protect their Local interests. The "Shareholders" are speeking loud and clear and the Media is talking it up. I think the merger wave is going to happen, my .02 cents.

Merger is going to happen and very quickly. DAL will merge with NW and it will be done very fast. Anderson wasn't hired because they liked his looks. Guess where he lives? He hasn'tindicated he plans on a address change in the near future.

Where does he live?

Yes, that was the only one I could think of that would be close. I can remember flying Western as a kid.

Here's another article which kind of talks about both sides of the issue that I thought was interesting...

http://www.startribune.com/business/13905096.html

I think it's interesting that DoJ has still to aprove NWA's investment in Midwest Airlines. DoJ is looking at that transaction (I do expect them to approve it) as a buyout by NWA. They continue to hold up approval, although it appears to be on track for the end of the month. But if they are looking at a relatively small purchase in that level of detail, I wonder what a review of a Delta/NWA transaction would take...