the same article also discusses the option of BMI as a partner. I wonder if this is going to be the future of aviation... airlines having to merge in order to survive and remain competitive. We have BA and Iberia, United and Continental and maybe next Virgin and BMI/Easyjet. How would the likes of ryanair (or BMI if they are not involved in a merger) be able to compete without eventually having to look at merging or taking over another airline?