ATL Journal-Constitution: Mergers aren't the route ailing airlines should take

C

chipmunn

Guest
[P][A href=http://www.accessatlanta.com/ajc/epaper/editions/today/opinion_d33bc9b1b18121190086.html][FONT face=Times New Roman size=3]http://www.accessatlanta.com/ajc/epaper/editions/today/opinion_d33bc9b1b18121190086.html[/FONT][/A][/P]
[P][FONT face=Times New Roman size=3]Some in the industry believe that their salvation lies in consolidation; that through mergers and other means the industry will inevitably shrink to two or three major carriers. In other words, they hope to solve their problems by eliminating the competition now pressuring them to cut costs. [/FONT]
[P][FONT face=Times New Roman size=3]That''s not an acceptable approach, and federal regulators should make sure it doesn''t happen. Such consolidation would give surviving companies a monopoly on many routes, allowing them to jack up fares and avoid making the tough decisions that other industries have been making for years now. [/FONT][/P]