The DOJ can say what ever they want . This is entirely up to the judge now . Also , AA's profit is irrelevant to our merger efforts . Sure AA and US can probably go at it alone for now but this merger is based on long term success and to be able to compete with DL and UA in the long term . The DOJ simply does not have a strong case and they know it . Why do they need more time to gather " Evidence"? Don't they have the evidence they already need ? Obviously not . Because what they do have is weak . And they know it . If they had a strong case , they would have asked for a trial date close to US/AA requested trial date in order to get this done and over with and stop waisting everyone's f 'ng time !