Texas-Based CEOs Predict Airline Collapse CEOs Meet To Discuss Future POSTED: 11:55 a.m. EDT May 4, 2004 UPDATED: 12:00 p.m. EDT May 4, 2004 FORT WORTH, Texas -- Some airlines may soon collaspe ... that's the prediction from the top executives who run the three major airlines based in Texas. Gerard Arpey, CEO of Fort Worth-based American Airlines, Gordon Bethune, CEO of Houston-based Continental and Jim Parker, CEO of Dallas-based Southwest Airlines met in Fort Worth Monday night to discuss the future of the industry. The men told hundreds of journalists from across the country to expect fewer jets in the air. While the men freely disclosed their predictions, they did not disclose which airlines they thought were likely to collapse. The executives defended the level of customer satisfaction and repeated their frustrations with high fuel costs. But Bethune said, "There is no reason to have six hub-and-spoke carriers." Bethune said even some low-cost carriers, who have performed better recently than traditional airlines, could fail. Parker added that while some carriers may fail, they could be replaced by new entrants, leaving the skies as crowded as before. Distributed by Internet Broadcasting Systems, Inc. The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Roger EWROPS