Amid economic turmoil the airline industry assumes the brace position

“Right here in Belgium, Brussels Airlines has thrown itself in the arms of Germany’s Lufthansa, which is much bigger and much richer. For Brussels Airlines, it was a matter of survival.” –Dan Michaels on the consolidation of European airlines

Six months ago, before bailouts of Wall Street and the auto industry were even up for discussion, all eyes were on the ailing airline industry. Plunging fuel prices should have offered consumers some respite–but they haven’t. Instead, ticket prices are as high as ever and more airlines are attempting mergers. For insight into how the airline industry is coping with economic free-fall, The Takeaway is joined by Dan Michaels, European aviation editor for The Wall Street Journal.