Tagged With "merger"

This case seems very peculiar to me. I have never understood why what is acceptable for some large airlines - Delta and United - is considered unfair competition for others. The airlines have been growing and merging since the Pan Am Clipper days. Why is this transaction any different ?

In a nutshell: AA and USAir are making exactly the argument you are, and the Justice Dept. is saying, in effect, "We shoulda stopped them, too." Obviously a lot of issues (both in terms of fares and of maintaining service to smaller cities), but not clear why the line's been drawn here. Meanwhile, Texas pulled out of the suit, Florida may follow, mayors of cities with AA and USAir hubs have backed the merger, airport operators are chiming in...so the mediation may end up being Justice's way...

the Justice Dept. is saying, in effect, "We shoulda stopped them, too." A stronger, healthier Delta and United is a bad thing because ?

Anti-merger views generally argue that the mergers reduce competition, raise fares, and cut service to smaller cities. Others might reply that the key to these new large carriers' survival is not so much that they got larger as that all of the carriers involved passed through bankruptcy, shedding workers, benefits, contracts and perhaps maintenance standards as they went...

Thanks for the update. It's already been useful. I have a few thousand USAir miles, not a lot but still enough to not let lapse. I've been making the occasional purchase of gifts through their site to keep them alive. After reading the article and the miles merge date I just bought my mother's gift through the AA site instead, the better to see them added to the bigger pile sooner. Thanks!

American Airlines and USAir merged a year ago this week, forming the world's largest airline, even though it's not quite operating like one. Passengers still book on two different systems, and sometimes use different customer service reps...but the...

The planned merger of American and USAir, which has been challenged by the Justice Department will go to mediation, in hopes of finding a solution that will be acceptable to the airlines and the Federal government. A mediator has been selected; if an...

Reuters reports the Department of Justice wants a broad range of promises and concessions in any deal to withdraw its objections to the merger of American and USAir. Read more HERE

Remarks by Atty Gen. Eric Holder, quoted in the NY Times Monday may indicate the AA/USAir merger might be moving toward a deal that would allow the merger and avert the anti-trust trial set for Nov. 25th. Read it HERE

International Air Group, the parent of British Air and Iberia, has made an offer to buy Aer Lingus, now owned 30% by RyanAir and 25% by the Irish government, and unlike two previous offers, the board of the Irish flag carrier has agreed to consider...

The Federal Aviation Administration is allowing the merged American/USAir to take the next step on its merger path; it announced Monday that it will issue the "single operating certificate (SOC)" that will remove the last barriers to the company...

A number of industry consultants and some airline executives believe that Europe's airlines, including numbers of its "flag" national carriers, need to consolidate to grow (or reach) profits.   They point to the experience in the U.S., where...

American Airlines will merge its two loyalty programs "within 30 days" according to e-mails sent yesterday to all members of the USAir Dividend Miles program, which will be folded into the AAdvantage program. All existing miles will transfer; for some...

Russia's international flag carrier, Aeroflot, will take over failing domestic carrier Transaero this week, paying one ruble for 75% of its shares. Aeroflot, itself in financial trouble, will be taking over a domestic route network, billions in debts,...

The planned merger of Russia's #2 airline, Transaero, into #1 Aeroflot (reported  HERE a month ago) has come undone, and Transaero will end operations on Dec. 15. No new tickets are on sale, and tickets for flights after Dec. 15 will be...

Last pieces appear to be falling into place for Ireland's Aer Lingus to become part of IAG, the holding company that also operates British Airways, Iberia and Vueling. Final approval could come as early as this Thursday.   One of the biggest...

Now the American Airlines and USAir have closed their merger, they've begun rolling out more details of the merger planning. Scott Kirby, who was USAir president and is now president of AA, announced dates for joint operations, for aligning loyalty...

As Delta struggles to return to normal, everyone's question is "How do these system-wide crashes even happen?"

Now that the Department of Justice has okayed the American Airlines/USAir merger, the two companies are rushing through needed steps to become one. They expect the deal to close next month, although merging all operations will take as much as two ...

Now the frequent flier part of the AA/USAir merger begins. AA announced yesterday that members in both its AAdvantage and Dividend Miles programs can earn miles in either program on all AA or USAir flights. In addition, elite members of either program...

A last minute bid by Chinese insurance consortium Anbang has put Starwood's sale to Marriott on hold. Marriott has 10 days to match the bid.

It's a deal: Alaska Airlines made it official this morning that the company is buying Virgin America and will operate as a single airline, possibly under two names.

Virgin America may be up for sale, and there are reported offers from JetBlue and Alaska Airlines, with Delta possibly coming to the table as well.

Update: American and the flight attendants have just settled the contract through arbitration. A number of other contracts must be reached in the coming year.

I guess the question for me is the merger good for consumers? From my own searches, I haven't seen as many good sales on the USAir old routes that I used to see.