Comments on: Who else will oppose the coming wave of airline mergers? http://www.elliott.org/blog/who-else-will-oppose-the-coming-wave-of-airline-mergers/ Consumer advocate Christopher Elliott's site. Fri, 10 Feb 2012 05:25:00 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Bob http://www.elliott.org/blog/who-else-will-oppose-the-coming-wave-of-airline-mergers/comment-page-1/#comment-9167 Bob Wed, 20 Feb 2008 08:20:37 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/blog/who-else-will-oppose-the-coming-wave-of-airline-mergers/#comment-9167 "Who else will oppose the coming wave of airline mergers? Maybe only other impotent politicians like Oberstar who can rant all he wants, but he cannot block a business merger -- not even an airline one no matter what committee he heads. He needs to listen to Terry Trippler (based in MSP) who said in the AJC 'Get over it'. "I'm telling people here, 'Get over it,' " Trippler said. "The Fortune 500 company is gone. The headquarters is gone. The red tail [the Northwest insignia] is gone." "But the critical thing is the hub, and we will save the hub." And watch Oberstar take credit for that. “Who else will oppose the coming wave of airline mergers?

Maybe only other impotent politicians like Oberstar who can rant all he wants, but he cannot block a business merger — not even an airline one no matter what committee he heads. He needs to listen to Terry Trippler (based in MSP) who said in the AJC ‘Get over it’.

“I’m telling people here, ‘Get over it,’ ” Trippler said. “The Fortune 500 company is gone. The headquarters is gone. The red tail [the Northwest insignia] is gone.”

“But the critical thing is the hub, and we will save the hub.”

And watch Oberstar take credit for that.

]]> By: Jasper http://www.elliott.org/blog/who-else-will-oppose-the-coming-wave-of-airline-mergers/comment-page-1/#comment-9085 Jasper Mon, 18 Feb 2008 16:20:50 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/blog/who-else-will-oppose-the-coming-wave-of-airline-mergers/#comment-9085 John Edwards was talking in his campaign about two Americas: the haves and the havenots. He had is almost right. There are the stockholders, and the consumers. Unfortunately, capitalism in the US has turned to a form where hedge-funds have the last say on how companies can quickly increase their stock value, whereas consumers have lost any consumer power. John Edwards was talking in his campaign about two Americas: the haves and the havenots. He had is almost right. There are the stockholders, and the consumers.
Unfortunately, capitalism in the US has turned to a form where hedge-funds have the last say on how companies can quickly increase their stock value, whereas consumers have lost any consumer power.

]]> By: BTC http://www.elliott.org/blog/who-else-will-oppose-the-coming-wave-of-airline-mergers/comment-page-1/#comment-9079 BTC Mon, 18 Feb 2008 13:49:27 +0000 http://www.elliott.org/blog/who-else-will-oppose-the-coming-wave-of-airline-mergers/#comment-9079 To: Business Week Letter-to-the-Editor Submitted February 15, 2008 I would change just one word of Chairman James Oberstar's excellent piece opposing further airline consolidation (Viewpoint, Feb. 15). He says airline mergers will lead to "further reductions in choice for consumers, and probably fewer flights, fewer jobs, and higher fares." Substitute "inevitably" for "probably" and business travelers are fully on board. Business travelers know from painful experience around the world that each and every time competition is eliminated in key airline industry markets, we pay more and get less. As the number of airlines shrinks, so shrinks the focus on consumer preferences. And with airline service and satisfaction levels in the US already dangerously low, anti-consumer mergers would leave passengers permanently trapped and out in the cold. Kevin Mitchell Chairman Business Travel Coalition Note: BTC recently completed a three-month survey and analysis regarding potential U.S. airline industry consolidation for the U.S. General Accountability Office. This analysis and BTC's formal position on consolidation will be released shortly. To: Business Week
Letter-to-the-Editor
Submitted February 15, 2008

I would change just one word of Chairman James Oberstar’s excellent piece opposing further airline consolidation (Viewpoint, Feb. 15). He says airline mergers will lead to “further reductions in choice for consumers, and probably fewer flights, fewer jobs, and higher fares.” Substitute “inevitably” for “probably” and business travelers are fully on board.

Business travelers know from painful experience around the world that each and every time competition is eliminated in key airline industry markets, we pay more and get less. As the number of airlines shrinks, so shrinks the focus on consumer preferences. And with airline service and satisfaction levels in the US already dangerously low, anti-consumer mergers would leave passengers permanently trapped and out in the cold.

Kevin Mitchell
Chairman
Business Travel Coalition

Note: BTC recently completed a three-month survey and analysis regarding potential U.S. airline industry consolidation for the U.S. General Accountability Office. This analysis and BTC’s formal position on consolidation will be released shortly.

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