American Airlines and United Airlines have reportedly discussed merging into one company. But experts say this move is likely to face antitrust scrutiny, and many are concerned about what a merger could do to airfares in a market already seeing rising prices.

What did the commentators say?
United CEO Scott Kirby has allegedly spoken with Trump administration officials about getting clearance for a merger. If the airlines combine, it would “create an unprecedented concentration of power in the commercial aviation industry,” said CNN. The joint company would “control roughly 40% of U.S. capacity when the available seats are adjusted for miles flown.” This has aviation analysts worried about a potential monopoly.

The idea that “we would have one airline responsible for four out of 10 flights every day is beyond horrific,” said William McGee, an aviation and travel fellow at the American Economic Liberties Project, to CNN. But airline consolidation has long been a part of the aviation business, and the White House has “shown a warmth toward mergers in the industry,” said CNBC. 

The potential deal may create a problem for customers, with the “main concern” being “higher fares,” said MarketWatch. Fares have already been climbing due to fuel shortages from the war in Iran, and “your next plane ticket and the pile of unused miles sitting in your account could both take a beating” if United and American joined, said Money Talks News. When airlines merge, the “combining loyalty programs almost always end up repricing awards upward.”

What next?
The details of the new proposed company are not yet clear. But any deal will “invite extraordinary scrutiny from regulators, labor unions and consumer advocates,” said Reuters. Prior governments have stopped smaller mergers. The Biden administration “blocked JetBlue’s attempt to acquire Spirit Airlines, arguing it would eliminate ‌a low-cost ⁠competitor.”

The talks are also coming at a time when the Trump administration is “concerned about affordability issues,” said antitrust ⁠lawyer Andre Barlow to Reuters. “I would think this would get a rigorous review.”

“Our season continues exactly as planned, uninterrupted and at full throttle,” said Scott O’Neil, the CEO of men’s golf tour LIV Golf, in an email to staff on Wednesday night, hours after an emergency meeting in New York. “But what about beyond this season?” said The Telegraph. O’Neil’s message was an “attempt to calm ferocious speculation” that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) is “pulling the plug” on the controversial franchise, into which it has already sunk $5 billion.

‘Dying days’
LIV Golf was “supposed to be the breakaway tour that changed golf as we know it,” said BBC Sport. It “certainly managed to disrupt the status quo,” with the help of the “eye-watering” amount of PIF funding. But the tour’s net losses have totaled more than $1.1 billion since it was established in 2021.

If they ever make a documentary about LIV, it will “look a lot like the one about that calamitous Fyre Festival,” said Sean O’Brien at talkSPORT. Some of the game’s big names who rejected offers to join the tour, including Tiger Woods and recent Masters winner Rory McIlroy, are on the “right side of history.” The tour’s only purpose was to “make rich men absurdly richer.”

Changing world
PIF announced a new five-year strategy on Wednesday to make up a budget deficit of $73 billion. The fund is set to “narrow” its funding focus and take stock of a “decade-long spending splurge,” said the Financial Times.

For a while, the soft power of sport was a “critical driver” in Saudi Arabia’s repositioning, but the “world has changed since then,” said The i Paper. Criticism of the country’s approach to human rights has, “if not washed clean off,” at least “shunted down the list of global concerns.” 

The Kingdom is still a major investor in F1 and football, including as hosts of the 2034 men’s World Cup. But for now, Riyadh will focus on events that “serve a PR purpose” or “promise a return on investment,” said the outlet. Golf “falls outside both metrics.”

Displaced residents gesture the “time out” signal as they drive back to their homes in southern Lebanon. Families returned amid a “tentative ceasefire” today following “six weeks of Israeli bombardment that has killed more than 2,100 people across the country,” said The Washington Post.
Ibrahim Amro / AFP / Getty Images

The South’s gorgeous and diverse beaches offer nearly every type of seaside experience. You can feel the white sand between your toes in Georgia, watch turtles nest in Texas and ride the waves in South Carolina. Whatever you are seeking, you will find it at one of these wash-your-cares-away beaches.

Folly Beach, South Carolina
You will find an “eclectic mix of Southern charm and seaside cool” that sets it apart from other coastal destinations, said Outside. It’s only 12 miles from downtown Charleston, with warm water “ideal for sunbathing, swimming and, of course, surfing.” 

Jekyll Island, Georgia
This barrier island boasts 10 miles of unspoiled shoreline, with each beach different from the next. Driftwood Beach, for example, is “scattered with huge, twisted sea-weathered branches and tree trunks” ideal for “fun scampering and a dramatic photo op,” said Atlanta Magazine. The island is “relatively flat,” and walking and biking trails “meander” through salt marshes and live oaks.

South Padre Island, Texas
This is party central for college students on spring break, but during the rest of the year, a “more mellow vibe prevails,” said Condé Nast Traveler. A visit to the South Padre Island Birding, Nature Center & Alligator Sanctuary, home to “stilt-legged birds, colorful butterflies and about 50 rescued ’gators,” is downright relaxing. And it’s not only beachgoers who flock here. The island is popular with nesting turtles, who arrive between April and August.