Assuming the US Airways/American Airlines merger does get approved by the government, it will still have many hurdles to jump over, in order to be sucessful.
As USA Today states, If previous U.S. airline mergers are any guide, the new partners may face some rough patches as they mesh booking systems, frequent-flier programs and eventually getting pilots familiar with new aircraft - all while persuading passengers to stick with them for the ride.
Being the last of the big-airline carriers to come together as one--Delta and Northwest merged in 2008, and United and Continental in 2010, US Airways and American Airlines can learn from their prdessors on what to do and not do.
They've been able to sit back and watch how Delta handled their merger and how United handled their merger, and I think there are lessons to be learned," said industry analyst Holly Hegeman, founder of PlaneBusiness.com to USA Today. Adding, "are there going to be glitches? Sure. ... Is it going to be smooth sailing? No."
Approval of the amalgamation is expected by many industry insiders to come in the fall, but the only catch will be convincing the government that they won't hurt fliers.
During a meeting with a House Judiciary subcommittee last month, the new airline's leaders said, according to USA Today, "service would continue to most communities and that mergers don't necessarily mean fares will go up.
Questioning before a Senate committee is scheduled for March 19. and it is most important for US Airways/American Airlines to get the blessings of the Justice Department--if they don't the deal cannot go through.
Airline mergers are incredibly complex," said United spokeswoman Megan McCarthy, reported USA Today. "There were definitely challenges, particularly in 2012 for us (United merged with Continental), but we now are in a great position to really focus on delivering all the benefits of the merger to our customers going forward."
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