Feb. 21, 2013; Feb. 24, 2013 American Airlines and US Airways are said to be ironing out the details of a merger that would create the world’s largest carrier. What could a deal mean for the industry, airports and passengers? In this edition of Smith Business Close-Up with the University of Maryland’s Robert H. Smith School of Business, Mike Ball talks about the impacts of a mega merger in the airlines industry.

COLLEGE PARK, Md. – Improved customer service driven by robust competition lies ahead of the new U.S. Airways-American Airlines merger, says Michael Ball, a University of Maryland expert on transportation systems and airport operations. (Ball co-directs NEXTOR, the National Center of Excellence for Aviation Operations Research. He oversees the Collaborative Decision Making research project for the center, which is funded by the FAA, NASA and other airline industry members.)