Could THIS news-breaking story in today's -- (Thursday January 10 2008) --
New York Times be part of the equation to merge ?



(condensed and partly paraphrased to save space):

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Coming: Airlines Plan Big Squeeze


Big airlines are in process of reducing domestic capacity, hoping to drive fares higher to offset rising fuel costs. Because full flights cause airlines all sort of operational problems, travelers should brace for continuing delays and misplaced bags. That means the chance of being bumped could be greater, and finding a seat on a later flight will take longer.


Among the top seven carriers, all but Southwest and Continental Airlines reduced domestic capacity in 2007. Some carriers expanded aggressively in international markets where there is less low-fare competition.

United Airlines expects to reduce its domestic flights this year by 3 percent to 4 percent, and Delta Air Lines plans to cut domestic flights 4 percentr to 5 percent.

Northwest Airlines and American Airlines are planning 2008 flights roughly equal to those of last year.

The current trend of reducing capacity is aimed at pushing fares up.
Each $10 increase in a barrel of oil requires the airline to raise round-trip fares an average of $18.

In markets dominated by traditional airlines, fewer flights will just mean higher prices and more crowding and all the other service problems that go with packed planes.

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Instead of raising fares, (or adding more fuel surcharges), it seems to me far better if the airlines would simply discontinue all deeply discounted coach fares.

Another avenue to pursue to eliminate and or stablize some of the rising fuel costs, is to reduce overall weight of a flight by restricting carryons to 1 standard size bag only (NO heavy backpacks; baby strollers etc.,) per person, and 1 piece only checked baggage NOT to exceed standard size and NO more than 40 pounds per person.

NO more wheelie luggage allowed jammed into the overheads.
Anything above the single piece of checked luggage gets an added assessment so much $ per pound.

I can just hear all the whining now. However that will condition us all to lighten up the loads of crap we carry around. Send it ahead by FedX if you need more junk.