The other big carriers are also expected to lose money in the third quarter.

Even the big carriers have been doing so for international flights, he added.

No big American carrier has yet signaled it would buy one.

There are 23 big carriers today, and the top 10 have 92 percent of the market.

Regional players simply aren't competing with the big national carriers for the same market.

The three other big American carriers, whose networks run on different technology, are now catching up, however.

And it must compete with other big carriers doing exactly the same thing equally well.

Instead, the big carriers agreed to some demands and cut side deals with companies.

That should have given the big carriers more pricing power and revenue share.

The big carriers that will be called upon to offer connectivity weren't so happy.