Feb 14, 2013, 9:50 am
Last edit by: JDiver
MODERATOR GUIDEPOST
The AA - US merger was approved by AMR creditors and the boards of directors of both airlines on 13 Feb 2013, and announced the 14th.
There is no further speculation about whether the merger will occur; all that is pending is approval from the bankruptcy court and the regulatory authorities.
American Airlines and US Airways approve merger: just the facts, please outlines the facts we know;
AA - US Merger Agreement / Announcement Discussion (consolidated) is the thread for discussion of the announced merger.
The AA - US merger was approved by AMR creditors and the boards of directors of both airlines on 13 Feb 2013, and announced the 14th.
There is no further speculation about whether the merger will occur; all that is pending is approval from the bankruptcy court and the regulatory authorities.
American Airlines and US Airways approve merger: just the facts, please outlines the facts we know;
AA - US Merger Agreement / Announcement Discussion (consolidated) is the thread for discussion of the announced merger.
ARCHIVE: US LCC & AMR / AA Takeover / merger Rumors and Discussion (consolidated)
Dec 16, 2012, 11:39 am
#2296
Suspended
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: London
Programs: BA GGL, AA 1MM LT GLD, SPG PLAT, National Exec Selc, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Plat, Marriott Silver
Posts: 8,278
While I'm firmly against a US merger, should it happen I believe DCA is the biggest asset for AA, followed by CLT. While maybe the hub shrinks, the Southeast is an important market and is also lucrative given the number of small cities where US and DL currently provide most of the service and can accordingly charge premium fares.
I think PHX would almost certainly go (though PHX-DFW/LAX are heavy O&D routes currently served frequently by AA and US mainline to DFW and US mainline - a lots of it - to LAX. Those routes would definitely not be downgraded).
PHL is the real question. Its still a massive O&D airport with a lot of lucrative business travel. But its also a miserable airport with miserable employees that is awfully close to JFK. That said, AA can't just move equipment to JFK because they don't have slots.
I think PHX would almost certainly go (though PHX-DFW/LAX are heavy O&D routes currently served frequently by AA and US mainline to DFW and US mainline - a lots of it - to LAX. Those routes would definitely not be downgraded).
PHL is the real question. Its still a massive O&D airport with a lot of lucrative business travel. But its also a miserable airport with miserable employees that is awfully close to JFK. That said, AA can't just move equipment to JFK because they don't have slots.
Dec 16, 2012, 1:17 pm
#2297
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2002
Location: NYC, USA
Programs: AA EXP 3MM, Lifetime Platinum, Marriott Titanium, HH Gold
Posts: 10,968
Agreed, PHL is the real question. Location and customer service are both big strikes against PHL. I honestly do not see the AA/US airline maintaining a hub presence at PHL. Focus city, maybe.
And, as to your other point, if AA simply bought B6, the slot issue would disappear!!! (this possibility has been under discussion for quite a while as well, though it seems to have faded in recent months as the US merger has become more public)
Dec 16, 2012, 1:30 pm
#2298
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jun 2001
Programs: DL 1 million, AA 1 mil, HH lapsed Diamond, Marriott Plat
Posts: 28,190
I think PHX would almost certainly go (though PHX-DFW/LAX are heavy O&D routes currently served frequently by AA and US mainline to DFW and US mainline - a lots of it - to LAX. Those routes would definitely not be downgraded).
PHL is the real question. Its still a massive O&D airport with a lot of lucrative business travel.
PHL is the real question. Its still a massive O&D airport with a lot of lucrative business travel.
I wouldn't have thought PHL would stand much of a chance as a TATL gateway, but US offers more TATL destinations non-stop from PHL than AA does from JFK.
Dec 16, 2012, 3:07 pm
#2299
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: eastern Europe & NC
Posts: 4,527
Agreed, PHL is the real question. Location and customer service are both big strikes against PHL. I honestly do not see the AA/US airline maintaining a hub presence at PHL. Focus city, maybe.
And, as to your other point, if AA simply bought B6, the slot issue would disappear!!! (this possibility has been under discussion for quite a while as well, though it seems to have faded in recent months as the US merger has become more public)
And, as to your other point, if AA simply bought B6, the slot issue would disappear!!! (this possibility has been under discussion for quite a while as well, though it seems to have faded in recent months as the US merger has become more public)
Dec 16, 2012, 3:16 pm
#2300
Suspended
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: London
Programs: BA GGL, AA 1MM LT GLD, SPG PLAT, National Exec Selc, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Plat, Marriott Silver
Posts: 8,278
PHX has more domestic O&D passengers than does PHL. But, if AA were simply looking for airports with dom. O&D passenger counts its retreats from BOS and SFO (both bugger than DFW) wouldn't have been quite so complete.
I wouldn't have thought PHL would stand much of a chance as a TATL gateway, but US offers more TATL destinations non-stop from PHL than AA does from JFK.
I wouldn't have thought PHL would stand much of a chance as a TATL gateway, but US offers more TATL destinations non-stop from PHL than AA does from JFK.
Having a NE gateway allows for cheaper operation of thinner TATL routes. Yes, it would be great to operate them through JFK but AA has neither the slots for the international service or the domestic feed to make them possible. When you look at routes like PHL-LIS and PHL-GLA, etc. US serves as the logical carrier from a large number of cities throughout the east, midwest and major west coast markets with morning non-stop departures to PHL. AA simply doesn't have that at JFK (or anything close to it).
Dec 16, 2012, 3:22 pm
#2301
Moderator: American AAdvantage, Signatures
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: London, England
Programs: UA 1K, Hilton Diamond, IHG Diamond Ambassador, National Exec, AA EXP Emeritus
Posts: 9,765
Posts that veer a bit out on tangents are OK--most of us have been known to do that on occasion (including me 
). However, posts that stray completely from the topic at hand have been and will be deleted, in the interest of keeping threads related to their topics. Thanks to everyone for understanding!
~Moderator
). However, posts that stray completely from the topic at hand have been and will be deleted, in the interest of keeping threads related to their topics. Thanks to everyone for understanding!~Moderator
Dec 16, 2012, 4:19 pm
#2302
Join Date: Jul 2007
Programs: QFF
Posts: 5,304
They could reopen BOS and close PHL?
Dec 16, 2012, 5:36 pm
#2303
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: DL: Silver; AA: EX PLAT; UA: Silver; HY: DIA; HH: DIA; MR: TIT
Posts: 1,708
Dec 17, 2012, 6:20 am
#2304
Suspended
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: London
Programs: BA GGL, AA 1MM LT GLD, SPG PLAT, National Exec Selc, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Plat, Marriott Silver
Posts: 8,278
Why? BOS is not well-positioned for a hub. Sure its good for TATL feed but PHL also has a sizeable business connecting smaller airports in the NE to the rest of the country. SYR-PHL-RDU is a lot more palatable than SYR-BOS-RDU for example.
US also has a level of dominance in PHL that could not likely be achieved in BOS given (1) DL's large presence (2) B6's large presence and (3) more international carrier competition (with the exception of LHR, CDG and FRA - US owns the TATL routes it operates - BOS has many more European carrier routes - MUC, FCO, MAD, AMS, etc.).
US also has a level of dominance in PHL that could not likely be achieved in BOS given (1) DL's large presence (2) B6's large presence and (3) more international carrier competition (with the exception of LHR, CDG and FRA - US owns the TATL routes it operates - BOS has many more European carrier routes - MUC, FCO, MAD, AMS, etc.).
Dec 17, 2012, 6:22 am
#2305
Suspended
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: London
Programs: BA GGL, AA 1MM LT GLD, SPG PLAT, National Exec Selc, Hilton Diamond, Hyatt Plat, Marriott Silver
Posts: 8,278
Dec 17, 2012, 8:14 am
#2306
Join Date: Sep 2002
Location: msp
Programs: AA PLT 3MM, DL PM 2MM
Posts: 1,142
ORD Future after AA/US Merger
Speculation. I'm thinking ORD would grow after a merger. Here is my reasoning. Looking at a US map now. OK if you want to make sure you optimize international travel on a now BIG LEGACY you have east coast, miami, texas, LA covered pretty well. What you need is a sweet spot in the middle of the US for Asia and Europe connections. Answer is ORD. So I think merger good news for ORD for AA flyers. Does this make sense?
Dec 17, 2012, 8:25 am
#2307
Suspended
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Toronto YYZ UA-1K 1MM,QFgold
Programs: Royal Ambassador/ SPG Platinum 75/Marriott gold
Posts: 14,283
Yes with US running the show they will add some great new routes, and run the airline properly. Things can only get better.
Dec 17, 2012, 9:01 am
#2308
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: ELP
Programs: AAdvantage, Amex MR
Posts: 2,314
Count me in as someone who doesn't want a merger. AA is just fine on its own and if it does anything with US it should be after coming out of BK.
I have a flight booked with miles in F this spring MEX-PHX and I really hope I am not watching on the welcome video Doug Parker talk about all the changes we are going to like as they combine to create the worlds leading airline.
I have a flight booked with miles in F this spring MEX-PHX and I really hope I am not watching on the welcome video Doug Parker talk about all the changes we are going to like as they combine to create the worlds leading airline.
Dec 17, 2012, 9:22 am
#2309
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2001
Location: LAX; AA EXP, MM; HH Gold
Posts: 31,789
IMO, AA will expand at ORD if it can do so profitably, regardless of the possible merger with US. US brings very little CHI market share to the table and unlike CVG and MEM, ORD won't be one of "too many hubs."
Dec 17, 2012, 9:47 am
#2310
Moderator: American AAdvantage, Signatures
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: London, England
Programs: UA 1K, Hilton Diamond, IHG Diamond Ambassador, National Exec, AA EXP Emeritus
Posts: 9,765