US Airways, United Airlines in merger talks while the opportunity remains: third time lucky?

The current wrangling between US Airways pilots and management over whether or not the current pilot contract would preclude further mergers has fuelled speculation of an imminent merger. So it came as no surprise yesterday that US Airways and United were apparently once again trying to merge. Without clear evidence yet that Delta-Northwest merger will succeed, the thinking was that there was still time for introspection. But today's opportunities will not last forever.