Urge to Merge.

AVIATION SOOTHSAYERS HAVE BEEN FORESEEING A FUTURE with fewer, but bigger, airlines. The latest megacarrier moment unfolded with American Airlines' takeover of bankrupt Trans World Airlines--a merger that's got a bit of everything for Latin America.

* The scary news? If the U.S. Department of Justice approves the merger, airlines in Central and South America will be butting heads with an even stronger American Airlines. In the Caribbean, where the merger eliminates TWA as a competitor, American's stronghold could become a stranglehold. Watch for fare increases there.

* On the upside, the consolidation opens the door to better connections and more rational routing. Tapping into TWAs hub and route system could mean Latin American travelers won't always have to land first in Miami or Dallas.

* "Latin America is very profitable for American Airlines, so it's not about to damage that. What it may do is open some new U.S. gateways," says Bob Booth, president of Aviation Management Services in Miami. "And United could see more inroads in Latin America."

* Booth predicts Delta and Continental won't sit idly by and watch American solidify its dominance. All that competition could spark fare cuts.

* What's good for Latin America may not be for the United States, however. "It's going to have a domino effect. You're eventually going to end up with three major carriers owning 90% of the domestic market," Booth says. "And that's bad for the consumer."