Salon :: Tech & Business

Ask the pilot: Who benefits when airlines merge? Who gets hit the hardest?

Fulfilling many months of rumor and speculation, the long-predicted consolidation of the U.S. <a href="http://dir.salon.com/topics/airlines/">airline</a> industry is finally upon us. As of this writing nothing is official, but reports are that Delta Air Lines and Northwest Airlines, the nation's (indeed the world's) third- and fifth-largest carriers, respectively, are close to agreeing to terms, and will announce their intentions to merge. It may already have happened by the time you are reading this. <P>With the first merger on the table, expect at least two, and probably three additional ones in short order. Don't be surprised if a United-Continental deal is struck in the coming weeks -- or even days. There is talk of a Southwest-AirTran union as well. <p>...</p><img src="http://feeds.salon.com/~r/salon/tech/~4/235311119" height="1" width="1"/>

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