beckoa

AS will buy JAL

That would be

I too wonder with the shake up of JAL what will happen...

HiFlyerAS

Y'all have got it all wrong.

My prediction: AS needs to spend some of that $1+ billion cash hoard and is buying HA in order to quickly obtain their longer-range 767/A330 fleet. Single aircraft type was a great idea at the time but is now out the door for operational reasons. Voila, no more headwind issues in the winter with the PNW-Hawaii flights.

With the new a/c, service is started between ANC-LHR, ANC-FRA, ANC-NRT and ANC-PVG. Maybe three-four times weekly each in summer, once or twice in winter. The longer-range a/c are moved south to Hawaii market in winter, still using the -800's in the summer when winds aren't an issue.

I_Can_Fly_US_Airways

Just say it ain't so! Delta is "knee-deep" in trying to lure JAL away from One World (I'm not much of Delta fan, but as I also hate AA, anything that would weaken AA pretty much brings a smile to my face).

I think we can sleep soundly tonight as this is simply not reality...

I_Can_Fly_US_Airways

Now there's a GREAT idea! HA widebody's vs. AS guppy's crossing the pond...that would probably make me think twice about taking UA or CO to Hawaii*

*This course would assume that if this ever happened, AS would upgrade the F class HA cabin. With CO running BF metal to Hawaii, it's a "no brainer" vs. HA's highly inferior hard & soft product. Don't get me wrong, love AS F service, but as we all know, they simply can't compete on this front...

BearX220

I've sometimes wondered what extreme turn of events might propel me to choose to fly UA. This would be it.

hgdf

Or they could just ETOPS the 700's and solve their occasional HI issues.

The 700LR could easily reach Europe and Asia from SEA/PDX/ANC, although I think the 787 would really be more suitable if AS wanted to get into the long haul international market.

Right now, AS is very much in the Goldilocks zone in the would of airlines, neither too big or too small. While I love the idea of expanding the route network internationally, the thought of the company doubling in size overnight makes me quiver with dread.

DL bought NW at fire sale prices as a means to gain a solid foothold in the Asian market. Given that AS is a healthy, profitable airline and that DL is now the world's largest, they'd probably have serious issues getting a merger past the federal antitrust regulators.

Seattlenerd

^^^

Or having to read many more of these annual speculation threads.

tusphotog

These rumors have been floating around since I started flying AS in the late 80s (RIP AirCal!). First it was American (after they bought AirCal), then it was American (after buying Reno Air), then it was Delta, then American again, then Delta, then Continental. I even heard United at one point. Now it's Delta again.

I somehow doubt DL would buy AS, but if they do, I'm back to flying WN exclusively.

ByrdluvsAWACO

Unfortunately, I can see DL buying AS. Welcome to your future.

COpltASgldPHX

From the West Coast CO uses 900ERs with Dom. F cabins and regular Dom. F service. "BusinessFirst" is only available on the non-stops from IAH and EWR and even then the in-flight service isn't quite on the same level, as BF on TATL and TPAC flights. AS doesn't need to compete with CO's BF product since it isn't offered from any of the markets AS serves to HI.

Tango

Why not have all airlines codeshare on each other--while you are at it, why not give them all 100% immunity on collaboration of all fares and flights. Like it or not we are heading down that path anyway. Delta is now the 800 pound gorilla in the room and they are starting to act like it. The Day that Delta takes over Alaska is the day that I stop flying on Alaska.

COpltASgldPHX

OMG can you imagine the announcements? "Welcome aboard AS flight 100 with service to Seattle, Wa. Today's flight is operated in partnership with Delta, American, United, Lan, Aeroflot, BMI, Kingfisher, Namibia, AirAsia Berhad" (I just threw in the last one because it's IATA code is AK!)

The day that DL takes over AS is the day I stop flying. Period. (In other words, it 'aint gonna' happen!)

ANC

seems like some flights in ANC or FAI are already this way

AS181, KLM 1991, DL 8911, NW3471, AF8991, AA7811, KE6024. Not that those are the actual flight numbers but looking at the LCD in FAI sometimes I count at least 4 sometimes 5 codeshares for 1 AS flight

Donna49

I agree that we have heard of merger rumors with Alaska and some other carrier for decades. I definitely recall the AA rumors, as they had some sort of interchange in the early 1990's where AS crews flew AA metal from SEA north, and AA crews flew AS metal south from SEA.

I think one of the first "breakout of the west coast" routes AS started was to ORD, and everyone thought that meant merger with AA.

Fast forward (is that a dated term now?) to today.

I'm a NW FF, dealing with the transition into DL. I see a lot of integration of the AS system into what DL now offers. If you go to delta.com, many flight options from SEA include AS.

In my own case, I have a membership in the former WorldClub, now the DL Skyclub. I just found out that a bp on DL with my SC card, will get me into the AS Boardroom; before, it took a bp on AS/QX to get in.

Merger, who knows? But they are definitely doing intensive cooperative collaboration.

I'd love to see the return of reciprocal upgrades, as I would like to fly AS.
I think AS flyers will love the DL aircraft with the inflight entertainment system.

greybeardy

You left out Northwest from the mid to late 90s.