Airlines Shrinking

With fuel prises rising, airlines are shrinking. Now granted, we are going into the winter months but there are still been lots of cuts (especially lots of cities cut). I expect airlines to go back to strongholds (monopolies) more then trying to compete. I also see them looking for merger partners. Thoughts?

AIRLINES Changes (from USA today)

American -4.6%

Continental -3.3%

Delta -0.6%

Northwest -3.5%

United -8.4%

US Airways -6.1%

average cut: -4.4%

These are reductions in the number of flights, plane-miles flown, employees, revenues…?

USA Today’s coverage of any business, especially the airline industry, is shoddy at best.