The Associated Press has just reported that "United Airlines has suspended the work of a merger preparation team of hundreds of employees."

Let's not break out the YIPPPPEEEEE! champagne just yet.

United spokesman Andy Plews told the media today that it is "not a correct analysis'' to assume the merger team's suspension means the deal is fading."  United stresses that the team is ready for the first 100 days of operations as an expanded airline thus no need for further work at this time.

However, anyone who's made even the slightest passing glance at a newspaper knows that industry experts speculate this merger deal will fall through.  Not to mention that even die-hard Stock Optionland ESOP supporters can't ignore how UAL's stock price has plummeted 30 percent since the merger proposal was announced last May.

So what happens to the hundreds of people on the merger prep team?  "When we get closer to a DOJ (Department of Justice) decision, we will mobilize the teams again,'' Chris Bowers, senior vice president for North America, told the press.

Well, you've got until August 1st.  Tick tock, tick tock, tick tock.