Originally Posted by
dmodemd
...and I am not sure they have also factored in that Branson wants to bring Virgin America back once Alaska drops the brand
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Full circle. Alaska just ends up with some slots and Airbus narrowbodies.
So those customers disenchanted by the loss of VX will be very happy to see it come back!
Even if a "new VX" does come to fruition, I doubt there'll be much of an impact. Where is Branson going to set up shop, SFO again, to become the third airline hubbed there? LAX, with an incredibly crowded market? SEA, which is running out of room, and where AS has fended off DL fairly well because of hometown loyalty?
Maybe he'd have slightly better chances from PDX, and he could have some decent success out of a dehubbed airport like PIT, but I don't see him directly taking on AS out of spite. He'd be throwing money away--and, thanks to the 25% ownership rule, largely others' money.