NEW YORK CITY, New York – If it’s approved, it would be a merger that results in the world’s largest airline. U.S. Airways has reportedly agreed to combine with American Airlines.
The combined carrier will keep the American Airlines name and become the world’s largest airline by passenger traffic. It will have more than 95,000 employees, more than 900 planes, and 3,200 daily flights.
Critics are concerned about another statistic, however. The merger would leave travelers with only 4 major carriers to choose from. Some say, that could mean increased airfares for travelers.
“American will virtually have a monopoly on every route they fly,” said Bernard Weinstein, an economics professor at SMU. “The only hope is that there will be some competition from other airlines.”
An official announcement is expected Thursday morning.
