'Only Four Airlines Will Survive'

[TallDutch]

A recession could kill off all but four of Europe's airlines, according to Ryanair chief executive Michael O'Leary.

Cost of flights to fall over next six months

The budget airline boss, who earlier announced a 47% drop in first-half profits, said as many as six European airlines could go bankrupt between now and Christmas.

More info can be found here:
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[outofafrica]

How on earth is it possible that AZ still flies around, as the CAI investors haven't invested yet. A month ago there was no money left for keeping the company flying, so where do they get the money from to bridge this period before CAI take over.

[brussels airlines]

The governement is keeping them alive. However, i don't know if this is completely legal.

[regi]

yes, that latest remark is an example how O'Learry his remark based on reason, finacial data, spread sheets, could become oblivious when the airline industry suffers so heavely under the financial crisis that other habits come in place: disregard of state intervention legislation, protectionism ( wait and see but if Obama becomes president, the USA will retract into isolation and will order immediately B767 tanker planes ) , old boys networks, ...
So yes, it sounds reasonable what he says, that the small and debtridden airlines will disappear.
But Air Zimabwe does still exist, just to name 1 example. ( a bit more extreme than AZ, I know )