No sooner had it become clear that George Bush really would be America's next president than United Airlines, American Airlines, us Airways and twa unveiled their latest plan for carving up the American market between them. United's controversial proposal to take over us Airways had been under scrutiny by the previous administration since May last year. The twist added in January was American Airlines' plan to take over twa, which was going bust anyway, and to acquire chunks of us Airways, mitigating the blow to competition from the proposed United/us Airways merger. The rescue of twa might also placate the antitrust authorities over the United merger, because it would make it part of a four-company rationalisation plan. Antitrust regulators tend to smile on deals that involve the acquisition of failing enterprises. A decision on the merger is expected later this month.
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