Air Canada Has AmWest, US Airways Merger Ties

"Consolidation in the North American industry is inevitable," said Robert Milton, chairman of the airline's parent company. "To the extent Air Canada is or isn't part of that is yet to be determined." The airlines are not strangers to each other. Air Canada and US Airways are both members of the same airline alliance, the Star Alliance, a network of airlines that feed passengers to each other globally. They also have both used Seabury Group for investment banking. On the America West side there's a Texas Pacific Group connection. The private equity firm brought America West out of bankruptcy a decade ago and, together with Air Canada, invested in Continental Airlines to bring it out of bankruptcy in 1993. TPG still owns a controlling interest in America West and is seen as a key player in any merger. The extent of its role is unclear. Full Story: http://www.azcentral.com/business/articles/0430economy30.html (I had to register the second time I went to it)