A Deal Built on Divestitures
Let us be completely cynical for a moment. Antitrust regulators are not going to let this fly without a fight. They will likely demand their pound of flesh. In the airline business, that flesh comes in the form of airport slots, terminal gates, and lucrative routes.
Think of airport slots at major international hubs. They are the rarest, most regulated real estate on earth.
When a mega-carrier is forced to drop its keys, rivals do not politely wait in line.
They scramble. This is the very definition of a high-stakes drama. Competitors like Delta Air Lines might suddenly find themselves with a golden, albeit conditional, opportunity to snatch up prime tarmac that would normally take a decade of tedious growth to acquire.