Airlines to Merge, Airliners to Follow Suit

In a deal estimated to be worth £2.5bn, US rivals Delta Air Lines and Northwest Airlines have agreed to merge - creating the world’s largest carrier, which will be known as Delta.

Both airlines were under bankruptcy protection until last year, and the move has prompted speculation that other air operators may follow suit.

It is expected that by combining operations, the troubled industry will save on the huge costs of operating fleets of airliners over globe-spanning networks. Boeing are said to be looking into the possibility of nailing two airliners together to create giant biplanes.

Not to be outdone, rival manufacturer Airbus is to revive the long-abandoned glider-tug concept, with a troika of short-haul A320s hauling a huge, engineless A380 into the air with rocket assistance, releasing it halfway to its destination and allowing it to glide the rest of the way, coming to an abrupt halt on its giant skid and disgorging holidaymakers from its broken fuselage directly onto the holiday beaches.

Unions, however, are likely to oppose the planned merger. Holidaymakers might not be too keen, either.