Originally Posted by
skrosvik
This is bad for the Alliance, and for us
Anyone who knows if Copa will leave ST too?? ST ends up with almost no coverage in Central and South America then, and loose it's New York hub. I am not a big fan of CO, but they have many key cities in South America, easily reached from New York.
I think ST will be the weakest alliance after this, with a bunch of insignificant and crappy airlines such as Allitalia and Aeroflot...
While SA and OW have good coverage throughout the world, with the departure of CO/Copa ST will lack coverage in South- and Central America, North-East USA, South East Asia, Middle East, India and Oceania.
I think the two significant alliances have been more aggressive and accessed key-markets like Middle East with the entries of Royal Jordanian and Turkish Airlines. Soon Air India will join SA - that's also an significant carrier in a key-market. So where will this leave ST...? There is not many significant carriers left to choose from....
I think for south america we will see Avianca annouced in the coming year or so they are already close with DL and AF/KL and with copa leaving(a big competitor for AV even within Colombia) this would open they way for them to join.Also i think GOL/Varig will join but i dont think that will be anytime soon.With the rumors that Air Tahiti Nui is joining as a associate and DL possiblebly opening a direct USA-AUS flight i think the Oceania will be covered quit well.For the Middle east will still have MEA pending and i think either GF or EY would be canidates to.For India i think it is given that Kingfisher will join it was recently stated by the director of skyteam that they we talking to them.In Asia we will have China Airlines joining proberly next year and there is alway Malaysian if i am corrected the restructing plan is due to be completed in 2009/2010 so maybe we will see them join by that time, plus there is still a chance that China Eastern may also join.I think that would give Skyteam a good as a covarge in Asia as star.Also you seem to forgot that DL also has a big international hub in NYC it is not as big as EWR for CO but still i dont think it is that much of blow that CO is leaving.