Originally Posted by
jiburi
Frontier laughing, not likely. If and when B6 and NK merger is approved, F9 position will be significantly diminished. B6 wants NK aircrafts, pilots and some routes, all of which Spirit can provide. Plus, eliminating ULCC NK can improve unsustainable fares, although they will likely be forced to keeping fares at current level for some time.
As for F9, F9 has reason to be nervous about this transaction. Without Spirit, F9 will become the largest of the domestic ULCC carrier. Operation a hub at DEN, with WN and UA with large presence, significantly impact their profitability. Unless F9 is pitching themselves at another airline for takeover, F9 really needed NK to unifying ULCC and diluting reliance to the already congested DEN hub.
Jiburi
That really doesn't make sense,
1) Most of F9's ops have been away from DEN for quite some time now.
2) F9 is probably happy. Let B6 overpay for NK, raise NK costs to B6 levels leaving the former NK network ripe for raiding by F9. F9 gets what it wants, the elimination of their main competitor, without having to spend a dime.