Airline Merger Affects Passengers

Merging together might be the right decision for Northwest and Delta Air Lines, but what does it mean for passengers? This merger could mean crowded planes, airport confusion and less flights.The merging of these two companies could start a surge of alliances among air lines. The unions could take several months to be approved, but travelers should expect to see fewer air carriers in service.The director of research at the Consumer Federation of America, Mark Cooper said of the merger, “It’s not an industry that works. We’re now getting to the point where there are so few carriers left, and they still can’t make money” Due to the recent bankruptcy of some air service companies, travelers are faced with less choices of flights and planes that are even more crowded than they are presently. Less available seating means high ticket costs for passengers. The chief executive at FareCompare.com says, “There’s no doubt in my mind fares are going to go up. Consumers are deluding themselves if they think that’s not the case.”According to Peter Schiff, the president of Euro Pacific Capitol, fears these altercations could make air travel too expensive for Americans with less income on a tight budget.

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