The Justice Department, to no one's surprise, has approved the merger of Delta and Northwest, the first of what could be more combinations in the airline business. In a statement, Justice lawyers said the merger eventually will lower prices for consumers by making what will be the world's largest airline more efficient. Read the AP story from Washington here, That story was followed quickly late Wednesday by one reporting the two airlines completed the legalities of the merger. And, please let us know what you think of this combo.

Average roundtrip airfares on all U.S. routes reached a 13-year high in the second quarter, up 8 percent, and PHL followed the trend, with fares up 8.5 percent, compared with the same 2007 period, according to goverment data reported today. PHL's average fare continues to be below the national average by a few dollars ($352 vs. $338 at PHL). Read a brief news story here. To see the big picture, and 13 years of data for PHL and other cities, go to a BTS Web site link. That's where you can see the dramatic effect the arrival of Southwest at PHL had on fares. For years before 2004, the airport was way above average, and since it's been below average.

The Transportation Security Administration says that starting today, PHL will have a new screening procedure at its B and C terminals designed to speed up the lines. The "diamond self-select" lines, which many of you have already used at the 50 airports where they have been set up, divide travelers into three groups, based on their experience. The lanes each have a diamond symbol in a particular color, like those used to designate expert, experienced or beginner ski slopes. The black diamond lane is for regular travelers who know -- or think they know -- how the routine works and are likely to get through it faster. The blue diamond lane is for the somewhat-experienced, mostly leisure travelers, but who may need to be reminded to remove shoes, jackets and all metal, and throw out that bottle of water. The green lane is for those with special needs, including families with children and those in wheelchairs or with other assistive equipment. At PHL, the lanes were set up in B and C terminals, used mostly by US Airways passengers.

A few observations: Why did TSA set up the lanes first in B and C and not Terminal D, which has the longest wait times, or Terminal E, with often the second-longest waits? I've asked but don't have an official answer yet. Best guess, more traffic in those terminals, and more lanes available, in a wider corridor, so that there was actually room to divide people into three groups. As I wrote about from PHL last week, the D-E terminals are getting a much larger security checkpoint, set to open before the Christmas holidays. You can see what average waiting times are at each terninal at PHL and all other U.S. commercial airports at this TSA link: http://waittime.tsa.dhs.gov/index.html. At PHL, the lines have gotten shorter this fall, probably the result of the usual seasonal decline in traffic and the airlines' dwindling flight schedules.

 My experience with this procedure is limited, but when they were first implemented, TSA had personnel directing travelers to the separate lines, based on what the officer surmised would be the best one. I was traveling at a slow time of the day from Dallas Love Field, with only a carryon bag, and was directed to a black diamond line with one other business traveler ahead of me, while a couple of family groups in front of me were sent to the green line. The families actually got through the process faster while the businessman put two bags on the belt, removed two laptops from them, and took off his lace-up shoes, jacket and jewelry. I was delayed perhaps a minute or two more than I would have in one of the other lanes -- not a big deal, but the experience pointed out to me that not all business travelers are going to speed through, and not all leisure travelers and ambulatory older people are going to be slow. Still, in most cases, the three-lane procedure appears to be working to speed up what is by necessity a tedious process.

USA Today has a story this morning, reporting that the Transporation Security Administration is likely to lift the ban on large bottles of liquids on airline flights next year. When I couldn't find any other similar news reports on this development, I Googled "TSA liquids" and found an Oct. 2 Wall Street Journal entry on its Middle Street Terminal blog with the same information. quoting TSA administrator Kip Hawley, as USA Today did.

 The USA Today story says Hawley mentioned the information on the www.tsa.gov Web site, but I don't find it there. We are still being reminded, first and foremost on the "infomation for travelers" page, about three-ounce bottles and quart-size clear plastic zip-top bags. Click over to the site and send me a message at tbelden@phillynews.com if you can find a specific statement from Mr. Hawley (TSA public affairs officers, this includes you) and I will link to it.

I think this is grreat news. I know why we have had these rules about liquids but they are among the more aggravating aspects of airport security. Several years ago, I decided to that when I fly, I would check my bags, with liquids in any size container I wished inside, so I had not thought much about the rules. All I had done was occasionally tell you, my readers, to go to the TSA site and do the research yourself. But last week, I thought I was going to be the one holding up a security line when headed out on a one-night trip with a small overnight carry-on bag. As the bag was disappearing down the conveyor belt, I realized I had not pulled my quart-size, clear plastic zip-top bag from my toiletries kit and placed it separately on the belt. I was a security threat! When my carry-on bag sailed through, I thought, OK, that rule isn't being enforced. I discovered that night why I had escaped detection: I actually forgot to pack the entire toiletries kit, plastic bag and all. Until sometime next fall, that may be the only way to avoid the rules.      

Major airlines believe they may do quite well next year, a combination of higher fares, reduced capacity, "a la carte" pricing and lower fuel costs. But will a downturn in business travel undercut the recovery? The Winging It column today takes a closer look, and can be found here.

Wall Street analysts also are more optimistic than they have been recently about airlines stocks, but warn that a spike in fuel prices is still a threat.

Adding to the mixed picture is a view from the Chicago area about the business-travel outlook for 2009. Here's a Chicago Tribune story about that.