Originally Posted by
MIDWESTERNFLYER
AS isn't in oneworld yet, and they announced PIT way before the announcement of them joining Oneworld.
PIT offered $500k for AS to add the route, same amount as they paid DE for service to FRA, for context.
I'm sure airlines can get statistics from DOT or otherwise to see where passengers are going even if they don't fly the route. If AS sees CLE-SEA in demand enough they think could also overcome people hard-aligned to an alliance, perhaps they'd add it. B6 added BOS-CLE for that reason (I imagine).