21.   Gaining regulatory approval for another airline merger will not be easy.

22.   He also said that most airline mergers have not met expectations because employees were not involved from the start.

23.   He said he rejects the suggestion from many industry experts that the troubled history of airline mergers is destined to repeat itself.

24.   Hollings also said he would support a one-year moratorium on airline mergers.

25.   In recent years, the government has blocked major airline mergers but it has been reluctant to take significant action to promote competition at big airports.

26.   Mullin also suggested the federal government should take a more relaxed stance to airline mergers that may arise.

27.   Solutions range from building more runways to stopping airline mergers.

28.   Still, in Congress Mineta took some positions on transportation issues that are not generally on the Republican agenda, including protection of workers hurt by airline mergers.

29.   Talk of airline mergers heated up Friday amid reports American Airlines has had exploratory talks about buying Northwest Airlines.

30.   The antitrust division will also be dealing with proposed airline mergers at a time when public discontent with air service is rapidly growing.