Comments on: 4 reasons to call off the airline mergers now http://www.elliott.org/blog/4-reasons-to-call-off-the-airline-mergers-now/ Consumer advocate Christopher Elliott's site. Fri, 10 Feb 2012 05:25:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: James McDowell http://www.elliott.org/blog/4-reasons-to-call-off-the-airline-mergers-now/comment-page-1/#comment-9661 James McDowell Wed, 05 Mar 2008 04:31:50 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/blog/4-reasons-to-call-off-the-airline-mergers-now/#comment-9661 I might suggest Number 5 may be better coverage as well. I am old enough to remember flights to Richmond, VA, Rocky Mount, NC, State College, PA and other small airports. I can assume that others of that ilk would likely be knocked off the map in the mergers. (Also, remember Piedmont, Braniff, TWA, etc.?) I would also like to hear the "fortress hub" conversation merged into this one. I know that depending on the government to save us is both silly and, in some ways, anti-American, but I do think the current situation was partially caused by irregular, inconsistent or short-sighted de-regulation and regulation--I wouldn't advocate no regulation, but somehow we almost seem to be in a worse position than we would with no regulation--and that regardless of fault, the FAA and the anti-trust groups at DOJ should ignore past precedent and start the analysis at the current point and say "No." I might suggest Number 5 may be better coverage as well. I am old enough to remember flights to Richmond, VA, Rocky Mount, NC, State College, PA and other small airports. I can assume that others of that ilk would likely be knocked off the map in the mergers. (Also, remember Piedmont, Braniff, TWA, etc.?)

I would also like to hear the “fortress hub” conversation merged into this one. I know that depending on the government to save us is both silly and, in some ways, anti-American, but I do think the current situation was partially caused by irregular, inconsistent or short-sighted de-regulation and regulation–I wouldn’t advocate no regulation, but somehow we almost seem to be in a worse position than we would with no regulation–and that regardless of fault, the FAA and the anti-trust groups at DOJ should ignore past precedent and start the analysis at the current point and say “No.”

]]> By: Tim Miller http://www.elliott.org/blog/4-reasons-to-call-off-the-airline-mergers-now/comment-page-1/#comment-9623 Tim Miller Tue, 04 Mar 2008 14:18:50 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/blog/4-reasons-to-call-off-the-airline-mergers-now/#comment-9623 You are so right on these points. I have been stymied as to why Delta chose to start going on the airline version of Match.com after they worked so hard to come out of bankruptcy. That and surviving the hostile "Snidely Whiplash" take over attempt by US Airways. I can only guess that Icahn's Paradus group is pressuring them or something. I mean, if there is a perfectly good stand alone plan, then go with it. So far, Delta is positioning themselves pretty well. Your number three point is spot on! I will say in response to another post of yours that I cannot see how the government could break airlines up. To what end? De-regulate some more? That's what got us into this mess. What probably should happen is ending the safe haven of bankruptcy. Much as I love Delta, their management Leo Mullin etc. got them into that way and enabling the laws of business, they should have just gone under. So should have Northwest and any other that cannot make it. Alas, I know that it is complicated that we do not want to put people out of jobs and the hits to the economy etc. No easy answers. Letting some airlines go though might lead to more competition from new entrants. You just cannot them to be strangled in the crib by the big boys undercutting prices. Ok, rant over. You have some good posts here Ellliot. I am enjoying reading them. You are so right on these points. I have been stymied as to why Delta chose to start going on the airline version of Match.com after they worked so hard to come out of bankruptcy. That and surviving the hostile “Snidely Whiplash” take over attempt by US Airways. I can only guess that Icahn’s Paradus group is pressuring them or something.

I mean, if there is a perfectly good stand alone plan, then go with it. So far, Delta is positioning themselves pretty well.

Your number three point is spot on!

I will say in response to another post of yours that I cannot see how the government could break airlines up. To what end? De-regulate some more? That’s what got us into this mess. What probably should happen is ending the safe haven of bankruptcy. Much as I love Delta, their management Leo Mullin etc. got them into that way and enabling the laws of business, they should have just gone under. So should have Northwest and any other that cannot make it. Alas, I know that it is complicated that we do not want to put people out of jobs and the hits to the economy etc. No easy answers. Letting some airlines go though might lead to more competition from new entrants. You just cannot them to be strangled in the crib by the big boys undercutting prices. Ok, rant over. You have some good posts here Ellliot. I am enjoying reading them.

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