By several accounts, the US Justice Department is investigating the US Airways / American Airlines merger and a focus appears to be on the control of approximately 70% of all the slots at the airport by a single airline.

I would think so.

Frankly, I had not appreciated just how dominate this arrange would be at this airport.  I feel certain that the combined airline will be required to give up slots to merge and it won’t be a tiny few.

It would be nice if the airlines could arrange a deal themselves rather than be forced to give these up for a giveaway.  I suspect Parker & Company could strike a deal that would see value going to an airline while they received value in return.

And this highlights, once again, the problem with slots and how they’re awarded to airlines at our major airports.  There needs to be a better way that is more dynamic for the market place.

Filed under: Mergers and Bankruptcy by ajax