I think it's time for open skies domestically

[RB TexLa]

Let's let non-US airlines compete in our domestic market. The US based ones are going to be one airline soon enough.

AP Sources: American Airlines and US Airways agree to merge and create world's biggest airline
By David Koenig, AP Airlines Writer | Associated Press

DALLAS (AP) -- American Airlines and US Airways will merge and create the world's biggest airline. The boards of both companies approved the deal late Wednesday, according to four people close to the situation.

The carrier will keep the American Airlines name but will be run by US Airways CEO Doug Parker. American's CEO, Tom Horton, will serve as chairman of the new company until mid-2014, these people said. They requested anonymity because the merger negotiations were private.

The merger caps a turbulent period of bankruptcies and consolidation that will leave the U.S. airline industry dominated by four big carriers — American, United, Delta and Southwest. Together they would control almost three-quarters of U.S. airline traffic.

The deal has been in the works since August, when creditors forced American to consider a merger rather than remain independent. American has been restructuring under bankruptcy protection since late 2011. AMR creditors and possibly its shareholders will own 72 percent of the stock, and US Airways Group Inc. shareholders will get the rest, three of the people said.



http://finance.yahoo.com/news/ap-sources-american-airlines-us-004018969.html

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

1. No. No, no, no, no, a thousand times no.

Cabotage is a horrible idea - it will cost American union jobs and compromise safety.

[Capt.Rocky300]

2. Well said.

[GoneOffShore]

3. The merger is probably going to do the exact same thing to the jobs.

And American airline safety isn't the best in the world.

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

5. Not a good reason to permit cabotage.

Mergers always result in job losses, unfortunately (I am "retired" because of an airline merger). But I see absolutely no justification for allowing foreign carriers to operate point-to-point within the U.S. Why make things worse than they already are?

Also, if you look at statistics, US carriers are among the safest in the world. If you are referring to the specific airline, American, well, they have had a few problems over the years.

[RB TexLa]

4. The European airlines are unionized

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

6. But the aircraft will not be staffed with American crews.

[RB TexLa]

7. Oh, no. The nerve of anyone to think non-Americans could ever deserve jobs.

You do know that foreign companies employ many, many Americans here, right?

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

8. I don't want any more American jobs going elsewhere. Period.