Originally Posted by HeathrowGuy
There are two facts that could potentially facilitate a shift in alliances for CO:
1. United is essentially required to "approve" the US Airways-America West merger under the terms of its codesharing agreement with US Airways. If this approval is withheld, then the codesharing agreement can be terminated, and US subsequently removed from the Star Alliance.
2. Continental has not sought, and apparently does not intend to seek, inclusion into the SkyTeam Transatlantic or Transpacific Antitrust Immunity arrangements.
I still dont see Continental joing Star, if anything the second point you bring up just goes to show Continental intention to grow instead of seeking shelter through anti trust immunity and to slow growth by the rise of mega codesharing. I feel it means they intend to build thier transatlantic offering to compliment thier own network first and thier partners second.
-Vincent