CX HK

I actually gave up on OZ *A lifetime a while back, but this new uncertainty has now caused me to start coming back again. It's cruel - but nothing would be more brutal than actually achieving lifetime status later and only to have it disappeared if the merger does go through / OZ folds.

As the saying goes, it's the hope that kills ya.

SightseeMC

"Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in!"

TravellingChris

The issue is that the proposed combined carrier wants to maintain its traffic rights to the countries to which KE and OZ currently fly. If both airlines were domestic-only, jurisdictions such as the United States would have no input. However, governments of foreign countries to which the carriers operate have the right to scrutinize the effect of a union on the services to their airports.

This is only a problem where the proposed deal would reduce competition. For example, the Government of Canada's approval for the transaction wasn't required, even though Korean Air flies to Vancouver and Toronto. Asiana doesn't serve Canada except as a code-share on Air Canada services, so its theoretical elimination would have no effect on Korea-Canada passenger routes.

vinx

Is a third-party buyout of Asiana Airlines around the corner?

https://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20230828000527

LAX

Any confirmation of this news?

LAX

dinoscool3

The only recent news was this: https://www.kedglobal.com/mergers-ac...ed202309250021

Korean seems to be driving itself into a hole to get this done, why they would willing give up the most profitable part of Asiana is beyond me.

tangfish

Anything that keeps Asiana in Star Alliance is a win in my book!

Gasolin

Please, just reject that deal so that OZ can actually be bought by anyone else than KE to stay in *A!

moondog

If they spun out the cargo division, isn't there a decent chance that the rest would become insolvent in the absence of additional capital? Who would invest in such an entity other than KE? If no investment comes in and it fails, wouldn't that outcome suit KE just as well?

SightseeMC

Not my area of expertise, but spinning off the cargo feels like KE just absorbing (and deleting) OZ to fully monopolize passenger travel. Same (terrible) outcome for us as customers, as KE would hike fares as soon as legally possible, forever.

stupidhead

Apparently KDB is involved in some backroom deal with Walter Cho relating to the proxy fight with his sister over KE. And evidently KDB was warned about this from Korean competition authorities (that this deal would be very difficult to get over the line) so they all should be sued for breaches of fiduciary duty.

Gasolin

Yes, I read about it in Korean news as well. They should not have been allowed to get in this family feud. Talking to HDB or any other buyer is the right thing to do.

SPN Lifer

Since Asiana (OZ) will resume ICN-SPN flights 20 December 2023, we on Saipan are all very interested in how this merger progresses, or doesn't. Regardless of whether we have lifetime OZ status.

https://www.mvariety.com/news/local/...006f2e8bc.html

randomasian

It looks like this isn't going to be resolved this year.

Assuming that the merger actually completes, I think a lot of us who have Asiana status but not lifetime yet would dump the airline unless KE adds a tier for Skyteam Elite+ with 2 year qualification. If they structure it right, it may actually entice more people to fly with them since their current program has a minimum miles/segments on KE requirement.

The news keeps going back and forth on this so I honestly don't know how I feel about it right now. SAS was my Star Alliance backup plan and now that's blown up.

brainer

I have some star alliance flights coming up and debating whether I should be crediting them to my Asiana account (I think I can hit SA Gold in the next few months based on prior Asiana earnings) or whether I'm better off crediting them to another program with the merger talks. Any advice?