Originally Posted by
QRC3288
Anyway, it will definitely be a loss for us if CX has a JV. And i will add: CX has kinda done something like this indirectly, by successfully lobbying their chummy friends in the HK govt to keep LCCs out of HKIA. Today HKG stands in contrast to Singapore, whose govt-owned flag carrier has been the main loser as Tigerair/Scott/Jetstar have grown there, and other regional LCCs like AirAsia have been welcomed with open arms. Instead in HK, the govt and CX successfully did some major verbal arm twisting, mental gymnastics and downright hypocrisy in getting an attempted LLC squashed before it got off the ground. The arguments read like a Saturday Night Live skit .....CX, an ultimately British company at its core arguing that the local HK lady and her mainland backers weren't "local" in HK, as grounds for killing it....except their argument was successful. Crony capitalism was at the heart of that deal just like it is at the heart of the transatlantic JVs. The consumer doesn't win in either case.
Good point. I will say once the third runway is complete, the gov't has no excuse to not further add capacity for LCC's.
I remember reading some analysis on OW regarding how they would be very interested to add a carrier on the mainland but will/have received push back from CX. You've got both China Eastern (if I remember correct, the article stated they were pretty dissatisfied with their current alliance) and Southern in the Sky Miles alliance and CA with *A. Hainan was the third airline mentioned as an option.