According To Gediminas Ziemelis, Three Have Recently Folded, Consolidation Is On The Horizon
Between 2004 and 2015, the US airline industry saw 11 major air carriers merge into 4. This massive consolidation took place as a response to industry slowdowns and from the lack of ability on the airlines part to generate a profit. As the dust settled, the remaining airlines have learned from their past and are practicing capacity discipline. The airlines left are now generating a profit, but as a result, the industry has become much less welcoming to new airlines.