Delta to Join Northwest to Form World’s Largest Airline

New York Times ^

[biff]

And all the efficient mergers will give us two major North American airlines. So, I wonder what a ticket from NY to LA will end up costing with no competition? Couple of grand? De-regulation seemed to really work out well. Prices will be no different than it was in the 60’s with regulation.

[Bogeygolfer]

“It is not like the airline industry is the only business in the world that is impacted by the rising cost of fuel. Other businesses such as trucking, the railroads, cab drivers and milkmen all have to absorb the costs but none that I mention will become a monopoly and none will go to the government for a handout.”

There is the small detail that the airline industry is central to our entire economy. I for one believe the airline industry is a very dificult business to run, perhaps one of the most dificult. I also think that low cost seats directly benefit our economy and if there was ever a bailout I’d be behind (not sure if there is one) this would be it. They aren’t making money and they provide a service that we need. I would rather they struggle and keep the costs relatively down and continue to service our needs. They are a huge net positive to this country and set us apart in many ways from our peers.

[cardinal4]

Frontier will make it, the declaration is tied to a credit card issue. AA will probably declare this week. Their loss last week will amount to a billion when all of the numbers are in. You can thank the FAA for that. As the Dispatch trainer, everytime the FAA comes in to my office, they come straight for me. Today, I saw them in the hall waiting for someone to let them into my office, and I split down the back stairs and smoked a cigar until they realized I was waiting for them to leave. From an insider who is partnered with AA, I can tell you that the FAA was out of line. They were willing to bankrupt the number one carrier to prove a point. Im sure there are decent folks in the FAA, in fact I know one or two, but for the most part, they are bitter for not being able to cut it in the industry..

[QBFimi]

>>I’m sure there are decent folks in the FAA, in fact I know one or two, but for the most part, they are bitter for not being able to cut it in the industry.<<

After 35 years of “flying the big jets”, I wouldn’t agree that “for the most part they are bitter...” I have the greatest respect for most of them (a lot just got sick of being gone all the time or of impending job loss in private industry). A few years before retirement, I had a simulator run-in with a snake who had been rejected as a pilot by my company 3 times, and hated every one of us who had made it.

A year after 9/11, the Feds were all out in force, telling the media that all was well in the industry. He showed up on my aircraft. I threatened to either throw him off my jumpseat as a disruption to the safe operation of the flight, or to walk off the airplane. He tried bluster, but I knew he was hated by his co-workers and had been told by his boss: “One more incident and you’re outta here.” With my chief pilot in attendance, he ended up agreeing to immediately leave the cockpit inflight if I ordered him to. Things were uneventful after that.

[cardinal4]

We had a guy show up and wanting the jumpseat, but the observer’s seat’s audio panel was deferred. There were seats in the back, but he was insisting on riding up front. Three hours later, and two cancelled flights, the prick ran over to another carrier to catch his ride to DEN, leaving us with a broken airplane and a number of stranded passengers, and the damn bird wasnt even broken! Just the observers audio panel!