One example they bring up is the pricing model that traditional airlines use.

Way too many, say executives at the traditional airlines.

The Continental statement means that all six of the industry's traditional airlines have announced plans this year to reduce pay, jobs and costs.

Collectively, the six big traditional airlines owe $20.8 billion in back payments.

The model followed by the budget carriers has worked so well that some of the traditional airlines have started to fight back.

That is a bad sign for the traditional airlines.

These days, there are no profits to share at the traditional airlines.

None of the nation's traditional airlines have expressed an interest, however.

American, alone among the big traditional hub-and-spoke airlines, has not been in bankruptcy.

Such a move would be a sharp reversal for Delta, which four years ago was considered the most successful of the traditional airlines.