Originally Posted by
beanex
I believe anti-monopoly rules will not allow the 2 largest airline to merge (i.e. AA + UA), so that's out of the equation.
While you may be an expert in antitrust law, you've gotta admit that your post is somewhat conclusory. As in lacking any reasoning behind the conclusion.
Perhaps DOJ would require that an AA/UA combo divest itself of some assets (maybe some ORD and LGA gates and maybe some slots at LHR and NRT), but I don't think there's an automatic disqualification for any potential two-airline mergers right now. I may be mistaken, but I don't see a rubber-stamp denial of even AA and UA.