More mergers possible for U.S. aviation

According to the airline chief executive at the heart of the last major U.S. merger, US Airways' Doug Parker, aviation companies in the United States could see further consolidation in the marketplace.
The combination of the old US Airways and America West Airlines, which created the fifth-largest American carrier last year, may involve either of the two troubled legacy airlines – Delta or Northwest.
Both companies filed for bankruptcy on the same day last September and Parker's view is that either one, or even both, could be an attractive investment as they look to emerge from Chapter 11 protection.
According to Parker, both Delta and Northwest will be able to cut operating costs to a bare minimum through the bankruptcy procedures of renegotiating contracts, dumping unneeded planes, and reworking its route schedules.

He told The Journal Gazette (Fort Wayne) that this will "present an opportunity that may not exist for a long, long time" – a ready-made streamlined business able to offer competitive fares and routes to passengers from the start.
Parker was quick to note that no official talks had been held to date but that, if the opportunity arose, his airline "will be there to talk to them".