A Return to Airline Regulation?

In response to the proposed merger of United and Continental, two U.S. House members say they will try to restore regulation to the airline industry if the merger is approved.

According to The Associated Press, Representatives James Oberstar (D-Minn.), chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, and Jerry Costello (D-Ill.), chairman of the panel's aviation subcommittee, said they will attempt to re-establish a government agency responsible for overseeing the airline industry if the merger goes through.

The likely winners? The airlines. The likely losers? Consumers, who have seen a major drop in the cost of air travel in the deregulation era.