AFAIK LH has already been tapping the tier 3 markets with fares that incorporate AI/9W as a feeder... for example:
Code:
29JUL11**29JUL11/LH NAGWAS/NSP;AT/TPM ...../MPM 10418
LN FARE BASIS OW INR RT B PEN DATES/DAYS AP MIN MAX R
21+VRCOWAAW 36915 V + - - + + 3+ - R
22 QRFAAW 72425 Q + - - + + - 12M R
23+WRCOWAAW 32715 W + - - + + 3+ - R
24+VRCAAW 63425 V + - - + + 3+ 12M R
25+WRCAAW 56425 W + - - + + 3+ 12M R
26+SRCAAW 48425 S + - - + + 3+ 12M R
27+TRCAAW 43425 T + - - + + 3+ 12M R
> PAGE 3/ 3
>fqr 27
FQR 27
29JUL11**29JUL11/LH NAGWAS/NSP;AT/TPM ...../MPM 10418
*** FOR STAR ALLIANCE RTW* SEE FQD XYZXYZ EG:FRAFRA ***
LN FARE BASIS OW INR RT B PEN DATES/DAYS AP MIN MAX R
27+TRCAAW 43425 T + - - + + 3+ 12M R
> PAGE 1/ 2
ADDON LH0409 SPECIFIED LH0409 ADDON EFF21JUL11
1 * NAG-LH/9W/AI-PNQ/BLR/CCU/HYD/MAA/BOM/DEL-LH-MUC/FRA-
LH-VIE/DEL/BOM/MAD/BCN/LIS/ROM/MIL/STO/OSL/CPH/BFS/
BRS/GLA/EDI/MAN/BHX/LON/SNN/DUB/BER/HAM/DUS/MUC/FRA/
PAR/GVA/ZRH/BRU/AMS-LH-YTO/YMQ/NYC/BOS-AC/CO/UA/LH-
WAS/CHI/CLE-AC/CO/UA/LH-WAS
2 * NAG-LH/9W/AI-PNQ/BLR/CCU/HYD/MAA/BOM/DEL-LH-MUC/FRA-
LH-VIE/DEL/BOM/MAD/BCN/LIS/ROM/MIL/STO/OSL/CPH/BFS/
BRS/GLA/EDI/MAN/BHX/LON/SNN/DUB/BER/HAM/DUS/MUC/FRA/
PAR/GVA/ZRH/BRU/AMS-LH-PHL/NYC/YOW/YMQ/YTO/YUL/YHZ/
BOS/DTT-AC/CO/UA/LH-WAS
3 * NAG-LH/9W/AI-PNQ/BLR/CCU/HYD/MAA/BOM/DEL-LH-MUC/FRA-
LH-VIE/DEL/BOM/MAD/BCN/LIS/ROM/MIL/STO/OSL/CPH/BFS/
BRS/GLA/EDI/MAN/BHX/LON/SNN/DUB/BER/HAM/DUS/MUC/FRA/
PAR/GVA/ZRH/BRU/AMS-LH-WAS
>
What would AI contribute in case they are more in bed with LH? Sales force? Not likely. What else... I'm really trying to find synergies here...