DL to buy VX?
#46
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Orlando, FL Area
Programs: Delta SkySponge ExtraAbsorbent, SPG Gold
Posts: 29,988
It would be hilarious if AS buys VX and gets the DAL gates. With the way DL has treated AS they can kiss goodbye any chance of remaining at DAL without a big fight. I'm sure AS can find a good use for those two DAL gates.
#47
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: San Antonio
Programs: DL DM, Former AA EXP now AY Plat, AC 75K, NW Plat, Former CO Gold, Hilton Diamond, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 27,052
They can fight all they want. The courts will still force DAL to allow DL to operate. DAL is the one that is in the hotseat, nit the airlines. They didn't include language in contracts with airlines requiring they have to give up gate use if another airline wishes to serve DAL. Now DAL is up against the fact FAA rules and regulations require that they make the airport available to any airline wishing to provide service. Thus to comply with the law they must violate their contract with current airlines. Simple case of airport management never thinking restrictions on the airport would ever be lifted.
#48
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Orlando, FL Area
Programs: Delta SkySponge ExtraAbsorbent, SPG Gold
Posts: 29,988
They can fight all they want. The courts will still force DAL to allow DL to operate. DAL is the one that is in the hotseat, nit the airlines. They didn't include language in contracts with airlines requiring they have to give up gate use if another airline wishes to serve DAL. Now DAL is up against the fact FAA rules and regulations require that they make the airport available to any airline wishing to provide service. Thus to comply with the law they must violate their contract with current airlines. Simple case of airport management never thinking restrictions on the airport would ever be lifted.
#49
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: SJC/YUL
Programs: DL PM, Marriott Gold
Posts: 3,878
#50
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Orlando, FL Area
Programs: Delta SkySponge ExtraAbsorbent, SPG Gold
Posts: 29,988
UA has a lock on the SFO market. Thinking otherwise is just foolish and it would be incredibly dumb of DL to try and start a hub at SFO. UA has many more widebodies to play around with than DL does.
#51
Original Poster
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: SJC
Programs: DL PM MM, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 3,276
I think AS would rather go into DFW so it connect with AA. However, it could sell those DAL gates for a nice high price.
#52
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: SJC/YUL
Programs: DL PM, Marriott Gold
Posts: 3,878
What a ridiculous statement. VX has managed to break UA's "lock" and build a profitable hub at SFO. They have a tiny fraction of the resources that DL does, and they don't have any widebodies at all. By your logic, UA should have wiped them out in no time.
#53
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Orlando, FL Area
Programs: Delta SkySponge ExtraAbsorbent, SPG Gold
Posts: 29,988
Think about this. If VX was really doing as well as you think they are then they wouldn't be putting up the For Sale sign.
#54
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: YYF/YLW
Programs: AA, DL, AS, VA, WS Silver
Posts: 5,951
+1 If AS is interested in VX, it makes no sense to me that it's for the DAL gates.
#55
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Orlando, FL Area
Programs: Delta SkySponge ExtraAbsorbent, SPG Gold
Posts: 29,988
What could AS do with two DAL gates? I can't imagine them starting more than 1-2 daily SEA flights and maybe a PDX flight, and even that is a stretch because it makes more sense for them to stay at DFW with their partner. Unless you're suggesting that AS start up their first non-west coast focus city across town from their partner in an airport with a dominant hub carrier (whether or not WN uses the word hub).
#56
Join Date: Jan 2002
Location: Atlanta, GA
Programs: DL DM & 5MM, WN
Posts: 1,451
In considering Alaska's options, don't forget about the idea of divesting planes, even in a large numbers. Southwest sent 88 planes, all 717s, to Delta on lease after merging in AirTran, retaining only 53 737s -- actions which converted the transaction from being sort of, maybe-ish pro-competitive to decidedly anti-competitive.
Last edited by Justin026; Mar 29, 2016 at 6:37 am
#57
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2008
Location: CHA, MAN;
Programs: Delta DM 1 MM; Hz PC
Posts: 11,169
Agreed but I was thinking for different reasons. VS and VX are different companies but they are sort of related. With DL owning 49% of VS it may get interesting.
#58
Join Date: May 2015
Location: DCA
Programs: AA EXP, DL FO, Marriott Titanium
Posts: 6,712
VS and VX don't codeshare (AFAIK), so their relationship doesn't really go beyond the Virgin name, the stake that Virgin Group has in both companies, and the ability to earn VX miles on VS flights (and vise versa).
#59
Join Date: Apr 2003
Location: SEA, NW/DL 1.6Million Miler
Programs: DL 1MM Annual Silver,AS 100K 22-24, AS 75K 15-21
Posts: 4,278
AS to buy VX
So now that Alaska purchase of Virgin seem a done deal, I wonder if this will finally unravel final AS/DL partnership change: termination.
Jiburi
Jiburi
Last edited by jiburi; Apr 4, 2016 at 9:44 am
#60
Suspended
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Orlando, FL Area
Programs: Delta SkySponge ExtraAbsorbent, SPG Gold
Posts: 29,988
I'm glad the sale of VX was completed in record time. It puts to rest the incredibly silly notion of DL being allowed to purchase them. Like I said, Delta's merging days are over.