I have purposely avoided comment on the pending merger between American Airlines and US Airways. Primarily, this is out of respect for my former colleagues that remain at American. Secondarily, I’ve wondered privately if things weren’t going too well since the proposed merger was announced.
Today’s news that the US DOJ is suing to block the merger is a big hiccup to say the least. In the end, I still think a merger can happen. This could be a bargaining chip. But it is obvious that the two airlines are going to have to give up something. Will that price be so high that the value of merging no longer looks so good? Only time will tell. In the meantime, pop the popcorn. This could be cute.
-MJ, August 13, 2013
I am an American flyer. I get why a merger will make the airline financially more stable and competitive with the other two legacies. But deep down I smiled this morning when I saw the news – there was still a chance that a hillbilly DUI egomaniac will not be at the helm of an airline that historically has been an air travel innovation incubator and run by the people who are ok with no hot meals in first class, no need for an app until 2013, no working website, international routes you can count on one hand, oversaw the largest airline integration disaster in history with America West, worst trained phone agents in the industry (many would still insist Lufthansa is not in Star Alliance) and sulkiest flight attendants. So maybe it’s not a bad thing it is getting blocked.
DC pols blocking a merger that would create a would-be monopoly at the nearest/most convenient airport(DCA)?
Never.
I think they are a victim of poor timing
If they had done the bk as soon as UA merger was done, they would have got off free.
Now the DOJ wants to look as if they are doing something and the economy is picking up.
You have a good point.