As the U.S. airline industry grapples with high fuel prices, carriers will continue to merge and provoke customer angst about ticket prices and service – but don’t look for Congress to step in.

Congress has ultimately taken a pass on preventing mergers between Delta and Northwest, and between United and Continental. There is every reason to think that if the third domino falls–a possible merger between US Airways and American Airlines–that lawmakers will again bench themselves, preferring to let the DOJ sort it out instead.

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