经济学人247:反垄断和航空公司 振奋起来

　　Business
商业报道
Antitrust and airlines
反垄断和航空公司
Brace¹, brace
振奋起来,振奋起来
The merger² of American Airlines and US Airways³ meets resistance
美国航空公司和全美航空合并困难重重
FLYING conditions were perfect, it was widely agreed, when American Airlines and US Airways announced in February their intention to take off together.
人们普遍认为，美国航空和全美航空2月份宣布同时起飞的意向时，他们的飞行条件是完美的。
But on August 13th the airlines unexpectedly found themselves fighting severe headwinds as the Department of Justice and six state attorneys-general filed a lawsuit⁴ to ground the proposed merger for being anti-competitive.
但是8月13日，航空公司发现他们受到了严重的阻碍，因为司法部和6位州检察官以反竞争为由提出诉讼阻止计划的合并。
The trustbusters argued that this was a bad deal for passengers who would face higher air fares, higher fees and fewer choices.
联邦反垄断察官辩论道，这对于乘客来说是一项坏的提议，他们将面临更高的票价，更高的费用和更少的选择。
The new airline, to be called American Airlines Group, would be the world's biggest, with around 187m passengers a year and more than 100,000 workers.
新航线，即美国航空集团，将会称为世界上最大的航空公司，他们每年大约有1.87亿客流量并拥有10万多的员工。
After decades of consolidation⁵, this would leave over 80% of America's domestic air-travel market in the hands of only four airlines:
合并后的十几年，80%美国国内航空旅游市场会握在4大航空公司手中：
the new one plus Delta⁶, United and Southwest.
新航线，达美航空，联合航空和西南航空。
2_副本.jpgNor would the concentration of the industry be certain to stop.
这个行业的集中当然也不会停止。
There is speculation⁷ that one reason the trustbusters decided⁸ to fight this deal is that they suspect that the new airline is planning a further merger with United.
有推测说联邦反垄断检察官决定反对这项提议的一个理由是他们怀疑新航线打算进一步和联航合并。
Their action may also indicate that the Obama administration intends to take a tougher line on antitrust laws in its second term.
他们的行为也表明奥巴马政府打算在其第二任期内在反垄断法采取更强硬的路线。
Is this concern justified⁹?
这个担忧是有充分理由的吗？
There are many industries where robust¹⁰ full-throated competition persists despite less than a half-dozen major players, says Peter Clark of University College London, a co-author of a new book on mergers¹¹, Masterminding the Deal.
来自伦敦大学学院的彼得?克拉克，一本关于合并的新书《策划交易》的合著者说，有许多行业即使只有不到半打的主要的竞争对手，强劲有力的竞争还是会存在。
Examples include telecoms, retail¹², oil, chemicals and media.
具体实例包括电信、零售、石油、化学和媒体行业。
Moreover, American and US Airways compete directly on only 12 domestic routes—which helps to explain why the merger was expected to win approval.
而且美国航空和全美航空仅在12条国内航线上竞争，这也解释了为什么合并会预期通过。
Yet the lawsuit shows that antitrust enforcers are taking a broader view of competition than has been typical when considering airline mergers in the past,
然而这项诉讼表明反垄断实施者以更广阔的眼光看待竞争而非过去典型的考虑航空公司合并的问题的方法，
by comparing the price American charges to fly direct between two cities with what US Airways charges between them with a stop en route.
也就是通过比较美国航空在两个城市直飞的价格和全美航空两个城市之间有一个停顿的价格。
Such flights take longer but are a lot cheaper. The antitrust authorities fear these attractive one-stop fares,
这种航线时间长但是便宜很多。反垄断局担心这种一站式票价,
which in some cases have been set low and energetically marketed by US Airways to win business from American, would go after the merger.
在某些情况下被全美航空定得很低的，并积极地营销来从美国航空赢得生意的方法，在合并后会实行。
American and US Airways say they will mount a vigorous defence of the deal.
美国航空和全美航空称他们会对这项交易发起一个强烈维护。
They will need to provide compelling evidence that passengers will benefit—presumably not least by the new airline providing stronger competition to Delta and United.
他们会提供有力的证据证明乘客将会从中获益—尤其是由新航线提供更强的竞争给达美航空和联航。
They will also have to explain away a treasure trove¹³ of internal e-mails uncovered by the antitrust watchdogs which appear to show airline executives dreaming of the many ways they will be able to charge more after a merger.
他们也必须为被反垄断检查团体揭露的内部邮件作辩解，这些邮件显示航空公司主管梦想着合并后许多方式他们能够收取更多费用。
The airlines may try to settle the lawsuit before it gets to court by giving up certain routes to rivals or guaranteeing prices and services.
航空公司可能通过把某些路线给竞争对手或者保证价格和服务的方式，尝试上法庭前解决诉讼问题。
If they are wise, these will be concentrated on Reagan National Airport in Washington, DC.
如果他们聪明，就会集中注意力在华盛顿特区的里根国家机场。
The new carrier would control 69% of landing slots at an airport under the noses of regulators and politicians.
这个新的载体将会在监管人和政客的监管下控制69%的降落跑道。
This might constrain¹⁴ the operations of a rival, JetBlue, which leases slots from American and competes with US Airways to provide price competition on routes favoured by the nation's politicians.
这可能会限制对手捷蓝航空的运行，捷蓝航空向美国航空租用降落跑道，并与全美航空在受国家政客欢迎的线路上打价格战。
1.take off 脱掉；起飞
It also makes for a more comfortable take off.
这也让乘客在起飞时更感舒适。
Take off your coat and socks, which enables you dump redundant¹⁵ concerns.
脱掉外衣和鞋袜，就甩掉了多余的顾虑。
2.fill to 填写
Set the current layer style to color dodge¹⁶, opacity¹⁷ 65 and fill to 37.
调整当前图层混合模式为“颜色减淡”，不透明度65%，填充37%。
Change the opacity to 40% and the fill to 50%.
将透明度设置为40%，填充设置为50%。
3.decide to 决定做
Why did you decide to talk about it?
那你为什么还决定把这件事说出来？
When you decide to improve your life, you really do.
当你决定去改变你的生活，你真的做了。
4.intend to 打算,想要
As we both have families, we intend to be discreet¹⁸.
由于我们两人都已成家，所以我们打算谨慎行事。
As president I intend to celebrate the rich diversity of human relationships.
作为总统，我打算庆祝人类关系上所具有的这种丰富多样性。

1 brace   

n. 支柱,曲柄,大括号; v. 绷紧,顶住,(为困难或坏事)做准备

参考例句：

• My daughter has to wear a brace on her teeth. 我的女儿得戴牙套以矫正牙齿。
• You had better brace yourself for some bad news. 有些坏消息,你最好做好准备。

2 merger   

n.企业合并，并吞

参考例句：

• Acceptance of the offer is the first step to a merger.对这项提议的赞同是合并的第一步。
• Shareholders will be voting on the merger of the companies.股东们将投票表决公司合并问题。

3 AIRWAYS   

航空公司

参考例句：

• The giant jets that increasingly dominate the world's airways. 越来越称雄于世界航线的巨型喷气机。
• At one point the company bought from Nippon Airways a 727 jet. 有一次公司从日本航空公司买了一架727型喷气机。

4 lawsuit   

n.诉讼，控诉

参考例句：

• They threatened him with a lawsuit.他们以诉讼威逼他。
• He was perpetually involving himself in this long lawsuit.他使自己无休止地卷入这场长时间的诉讼。

5 consolidation   

n.合并,巩固

参考例句：

• The denser population necessitates closer consolidation both for internal and external action. 住得日益稠密的居民，对内和对外都不得不更紧密地团结起来。 来自英汉非文学 - 家庭、私有制和国家的起源
• The state ensures the consolidation and growth of the state economy. 国家保障国营经济的巩固和发展。 来自汉英非文学 - 中国宪法

6 delta   

n.（流的）角洲

参考例句：

• He has been to the delta of the Nile.他曾去过尼罗河三角洲。
• The Nile divides at its mouth and forms a delta.尼罗河在河口分岔，形成了一个三角洲。

7 speculation   

n.思索，沉思；猜测；投机

参考例句：

• Her mind is occupied with speculation.她的头脑忙于思考。
• There is widespread speculation that he is going to resign.人们普遍推测他要辞职。

8 decided   

adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的

参考例句：

• This gave them a decided advantage over their opponents.这使他们比对手具有明显的优势。
• There is a decided difference between British and Chinese way of greeting.英国人和中国人打招呼的方式有很明显的区别。

9 justified   

a.正当的，有理的

参考例句：

• She felt fully justified in asking for her money back. 她认为有充分的理由要求退款。
• The prisoner has certainly justified his claims by his actions. 那个囚犯确实已用自己的行动表明他的要求是正当的。

10 robust   

adj.强壮的，强健的，粗野的，需要体力的，浓的

参考例句：

• She is too tall and robust.她个子太高，身体太壮。
• China wants to keep growth robust to reduce poverty and avoid job losses,AP commented.美联社评论道，中国希望保持经济强势增长，以减少贫困和失业状况。

11 mergers   

n.（两个公司的）合并( merger的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• Mergers fall into three categories: horizontal, vertical, and conglomerate. 合并分为以下三种：横向合并，纵向合并和混合合并。 来自辞典例句
• Many recent mergers are concentrated within specific industries, particularly in retailing, airlines and communications. 现代许多合并企业集中进行某些特定业务，在零售业、民航和通讯业中更是如此。 来自英汉非文学 - 政府文件

12 retail   

v./n.零售；adv.以零售价格

参考例句：

• In this shop they retail tobacco and sweets.这家铺子零售香烟和糖果。
• These shoes retail at 10 yuan a pair.这些鞋子零卖10元一双。

13 trove   

n.被发现的东西，收藏的东西

参考例句：

• He assembled a rich trove of Chinese porcelain.他收集了一批中国瓷器。
• The gallery is a treasure trove of medieval art.这个画廊是中世纪艺术的宝库。

14 constrain   

vt.限制，约束；克制，抑制

参考例句：

• She tried to constrain herself from a cough in class.上课时她竭力忍住不咳嗽。
• The study will examine the factors which constrain local economic growth.这项研究将考查抑制当地经济发展的因素。

15 redundant   

adj.多余的，过剩的；(食物)丰富的；被解雇的

参考例句：

• There are too many redundant words in this book.这本书里多余的词太多。
• Nearly all the redundant worker have been absorbed into other departments.几乎所有冗员，都已调往其他部门任职。

16 dodge   

v.闪开，躲开，避开；n.妙计，诡计

参考例句：

• A dodge behind a tree kept her from being run over.她向树后一闪，才没被车从身上辗过。
• The dodge was coopered by the police.诡计被警察粉碎了。

17 opacity   

n.不透明；难懂

参考例句：

• He insisted that the mineral content of the water determined the opacity.他坚持认为水的清澈程度取决于其中矿物质的含量。
• Opacity of the eye lens can be induced by deficiency of certain vitamins.眼球晶状体的混浊可由缺乏某些维生素造成。

18 discreet   

adj.(言行)谨慎的；慎重的；有判断力的

参考例句：

• He is very discreet in giving his opinions.发表意见他十分慎重。
• It wasn't discreet of you to ring me up at the office.你打电话到我办公室真是太鲁莽了。