With the US airline industry in the pits (even AA which has done a fair job of cutting costs and staying afloat, now has seen those efforts made obsolete by high energy costs), and Bush and the Republican right fighting off charges of poor administration and rampant cronyism, it seems likely the politicos would not open up the flood gates of true competition, exposing a very visible and politically sensitive industry to even more painful cuts and trimming. At least, that is my take on things, for what it is worth.

And what regulatory reform does Willie mean in the US?

But I doubt any tie ups in the future would mean, even in the medium term, an equalising of standards in the cabins and elsewhere. Air France and KLM have been married for a while now, and there is little inkling that KLM will be brought in line with the French. Although a few KLM pilots tell me they believe KLM as a brand will eventually be phased out, to be replaced by some bland Euro brand or even worse simply Air France. Flying Blue is the first step, and maintaining two seperate identities and sets of products seems to expensive. This is what I am told anyway... I imagine the Spaniards may not feel so happy about British Airways gobbling up their national airline, no matter how bad the people from that island think it may be.