People Express
People Express, founded in April 1981, grew rapidly on the basis of low fares and no-frills service. It soon became a leading airline and (19) changed the industry as firms constantly engaged in price wars to lure passengers. Then, People Express’ bubble (20) because it over expanded, consumer complaints mounted and other airlines matched its fares on popular routes. In 1986, People Express (21) hundreds of millions of dollars and was forced to sell out to Texas Air, the owner of Continental and Eastern Airlines.
In early 1987, Texas Air (22) People Express into its Continental division and industry observers believed (23) the costly fare wars would be ended. They could not have been more wrong. To stimulate business for its (24) Continental Airlines, Texas Air instituted a new low fare category (25) MaxSaver. The fare offered prices that were up to 40 percent lower than "supersaver" rates offered (26) all airlines. For Example, the round-trip MaxSaver fare from New York to Houston was $79. The MaxSaver fares were immediately matched by all major airlines, (27) feared losing business.
While MaxSaver rates were low, they also had restrictions. Tickets could not be (28) or flight times modified after purchase. Passengers would have to stay over either a Saturday or Sunday. Reservations had to be made at least two days (29) , and there were limited seats available.
Three weeks after MaxSaver rates were (30) American Airlines announced plans to raise its discount fares and require 30-day (31) purchasing for its lowest fares. It felt it could not continue at the rates in effect feet. However, just 10 days (32) American Airlines had to revise its plan. Texas Air refused to abandon the MaxSaver fare; it even extended the program into the busy summer season. Competitors went along and the price war raged on, (33) an executive’s comment that "nobody’s cost structure can survive MaxSavers".
33（）
A．despite of
B．despite
C．in spite
D．although
