Originally Posted by
moondog
Please accept my apologies for the sloppy quote style. I don't know how to quote two levels deep so I simply applied topic labels to the two topics I had either broached or previously commented on.
1. I addressed this up thread, but Delta's investment in MU predates Ed's tenure at the helm, and his vision towards partnerships isn't in line with that of his predecessors. From a de facto standpoint, the DL-MU partnership is close to meaningless these days. It's not outright antagonistic like we see with CI, but there is no love there. Feelings towards MU might sour a bit if/when MU ensures that neither DL nor UA can operate LAX-PVG profitably again.
2. With respect to PKX, Zhongnanhai didn't exactly force airlines to move, but it provided strong incentives and those that took the bait are kind of stuck (i.e. not an easy process to reverse). I don't have any articles to cite, but I'm friends with one of the people who was involved in that process (he's since changed jobs).
Few things.
The bolded simply isn't true. All you have to do is look at things like investor day presentations (whatever the hell Delta calls it now) to see that MU is still a very important part of Delta's part program. If it weren't Delta would simply unload the investments it has. Its not like Delta isn't okay with taking a bath on investments. Is MU KE or AF/KL? no. But its laughable to compare them to CI. MU is part of the reason Delta is so distant toward CI actually but that will turn political fast so that is all I will say.
Re LAX-PVG, not sure where you are getting that from, MU operated LAX-PVG
long before Delta did. What made China a dumpster fire from LAX was not LAX-PEK, PVG, CAN on the Chinese airlines but the Open Skies airports in the bilateral like LAX-WUH and such that the Chinese carriers were capacity dumping on. Not to mention Delta, United, American flying to PVG and American to PEK. (plus SFO right up the road)
Finally on PKX, Again Delta made it very clear they moved to be close with MU. They even issued at PR saying as much.
"As Delta operates in the new mega airport, working with China Eastern side by side, customers will enjoy improved departure and arrival time, seamless connection, more convenient baggage delivery, and faster security check, customs, and boarding/arrival procedures.”"
"Delta’s relocation will come at a time when its SkyTeam partner China Eastern has announced moving its services to Daxing Airport, which will ensure smooth and convenient international-domestic connections for customers from both airlines."
https://pro.delta.com/content/agency...ional-air.html
Sorry, FT wont let me hot link for some reason.
You'll note the move to PKX because of MU was under the leadership of Ed.