Yes we needed to start 10 years ago. If we don't start in the next 5 years then open skies is going to wreak havoc on all of us.
that doesn't make any sense. Every airline pays the same price for fuel. Just because the oil is pumped in N America doesn't mean they are going to sell it at a discount to US Airlines. Fuel is a fixed cost and the only way around high fuel costs is to generate extra revenue or find creative ways to cut costs. Hence the talk of mergers.