Realistically, I reckon the future of European legacy carriers is consolidation into groups. In the face of sharply rising costs and fierce short-haul competition from the LCCs, smaller players are increasingly squeezed and will slide into poor financial shape (if they haven't done so already!). European Governments can't pour money into these operators either.
As we have seen time and time again, well established "national flag carriers" can fail...
Last edited by EuroWings; 18th May 2012 at 22:34.