Good for Alaska. Maybe they'll be able to compete with and push back against the 'big 3' oligopoly.

:mad:I think you mean "big 4". Southwest is as much a part of the oligopoly as UA, DL and AA. Together, the four carriers control about 80% of domestic traffic.

Details at

http://www.foxbusiness.com/markets/2...n-america.html

Fingers crossed that the AS/VX merger causes DL to bring back the 2xMQM deals for SEA-based customers. (Maybe also SFO/LAX? Who knows?)

Why would it - AS will be busily digesting their new acquisition for several years to come.

Besides, keeping a partial relationship with DL is a good way for AS to keep Mr. Parker honest.

David

I think the competition on the premium transcon routes will a source of tension

Assuming of course that AS keeps those routes.

As far as I know, the only connection between VX and VS is Branson himself. There's no corporate link.

Those routes are the very heart of VX's network. In my mind, if AS didn't want these routes, it wouldn't have bought VX. Just my 2 cents.

And assuming that they retain the premium product. With the VX product having fallen pretty far behind at this point, I'm curious whether AS chooses to invest in it, retain it at a discount, or abandons the premium market altogether. They've never offered a product like VX's front cabin, so I'm curious what they would do with it. Indeed, I'm curious what they will do with the back of the bus too. AS has always had a, shall we say, spartan approach to fitting their aircraft, while VX went completely the other way.

I get why AS would want to increase their heft at SFO and elsewhere. I get that they take out a competitor. But the product is just so different and I wonder if they are going to pay $4bn for a handful of gates and some slots at JFK. Because I sure don't see VX customers being enthused about the AS product.

with what has been happening to airfares lately (sky high on non compete routes which are now more numerous with the consolidation), I dont see the justice department green lighting this at all.

One strong airline is much better positioned to compete with the 4 giants in the industry than 2 weak airlines.

It would actually DECREASE competition if the government allowed each of the giants to have a merger, then denied that same thing to the smaller airlines.

I believe this merger will be approved in less time than it took me to write this reply.

And to add to that, Branson was never allowed to have a controlling vote in VX. So it didn't matter what Branson had in mind for VX, there was nothing he could do about it.

Alaska is one of the best airlines in the world and I have no doubt they will do very well with the acquisition of VX.

I hope the merger helps out the FF through more competition.

I highly doubt DOJ will block the acquisition.

Not sure, but I'm willing to bet that pre-merger NW, DL, CO, UA, AA, US, WN were all bigger than even a combined AS/VX would be.

Also not sure what AS will do with the leased airbus planes, t-con routes, 2 gates at DAL, and a revenue based FF program. It will be interesting to see how AS handles all of these things as well as integration of the work forces, systems, schedules, etc.

I know why AS is making the purchase, but I wonder if they'll lose some of their sterling reputation they've kept as they haven't had any merger pains while most of their competition has.