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Old Jul 31, 2003 | 8:18 am
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Northwest KLM split?

I might be a little late on this info, but I was told that KLM is thinking about breaking their ties with NW in the coming years...any info on this? Will NW be looking for another European partner?
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Old Jul 31, 2003 | 9:47 am
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Would BA be a good?
It would be good for me!!!!!
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Old Jul 31, 2003 | 9:57 am
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<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by moerajab:
I might be a little late on this info, but I was told that KLM is thinking about breaking their ties with NW in the coming years...any info on this? Will NW be looking for another European partner?</font>
Source? Corroborating evidence?

Sorry, but this kind of "rumor" is just that.

OTOH, AF would be the obvious "another European partner"...
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Old Jul 31, 2003 | 11:47 am
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This comes up often among KL fans... I think NW/KL are pretty happy with their relationship, and I think if one were to sever ties, itd be NW KL needs NW more than NW needs KL.
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Old Jul 31, 2003 | 12:30 pm
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it's been brought up many times that KLM gets a huge ratio (over 50%?) of their revenue from North American customers connecting from NW flights.

I can't imagine any other airline partner having an arrangement this good for KLM.

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Old Jul 31, 2003 | 1:19 pm
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And I can't imagine NW throwing KL over for AF. Who would prefer CDG to AMS?
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Old Jul 31, 2003 | 1:27 pm
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<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by BearX220:
And I can't imagine NW throwing KL over for AF. Who would prefer CDG to AMS? </font>
In the case of NW/CO joining SkyTeam, AF would be there "in addition" to KL... if that were to ever happen, that is.
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Old Jul 31, 2003 | 1:38 pm
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Actually KLM has been in on-again/off-again talks with Air France and British Airways on merging or creating a partnership...the more likely being of late has been Air France...especially with NW and CO joining DL (although nothing official yet about being part of "Skyteam").

I doubt seriously the KLM would sever ties with NW, especially with no other US airlines "available" to link with. NW and KL have an agreement in place now that will last another 5-6 years. (??)
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Old Jul 31, 2003 | 1:48 pm
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And, the NW/KL link is strong as can be. They don't even really try to compete. If you go to the KL website and tell it you are in North America, they send you to http://nw.aero It sometimes seems like NW/KLM is the name of the airline.
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Old Jul 31, 2003 | 2:54 pm
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Do not NWA and KLM have joint venture for North Atlantic operations?

Is there are other alliance that is a joint venture?

--Jano

[This message has been edited by Jano (edited 07-31-2003).]
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Old Jul 31, 2003 | 3:34 pm
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At this point, NW and KL couldn't effectively part ways even if they wanted to. The two carriers have integrated their infrastructures so tightly that the carriers would face exorbitant costs to operate as standalone entities.

Besides, for all of the talk, the odds of KL going to BA are virtually zero. Among other things, the UK lacks an Open Skies agreement with the US, and the US authorities have made clear that KLM would have to cease ALL flying to the US ex-AMS in the event of a BA merger. IMHO, KL will sign on to SkyTeam and join concurrently with CO and NW.

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Old Jul 31, 2003 | 3:41 pm
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and there is a world outside either USA or Europe, some of which is serviced by NW and some by KLM to their mutual convenience
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Old Jul 31, 2003 | 7:19 pm
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<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif" size="2">Originally posted by franjelley:
and there is a world outside either USA or Europe, some of which is serviced by NW and some by KLM to their mutual convenience</font>
Alas, not your corner of the world.
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Old Aug 1, 2003 | 12:36 am
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Reuters : KLM could sacrifice NWA alliance if needed.

KLM could jettison its alliance with Northwest Airlines if needed when it makes its choice later this year to either join the oneworld or SkyTeam global airline groupings, a spokesman said on Friday.
"KLM wants to keep its succesful alliance with Northwest," spokesman Jan Christiaan Hellendoorn said. "But if it is in the best interest of both parties, the contract includes the terms under which the link can be ended," he added.

Hellendoorn commented on reported remarks by chief executive Leo van Wijk in an interview with respected aviation magazine Airline Business, that KLM could seek a divorce with NWA.

The KLM/Northwest equity alliance dates back to 1989 and is the longest running transatlantic link of airlines.

http://biz.yahoo.com/rc/030801/airlines_klm_nwa_1.html

johan

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Old Aug 1, 2003 | 1:20 am
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My Thoughts... by IP
Since I began regularly participating in airline-related Internet message forums, the one thing thats stood out most in my mind is how KLs viewed as a superior carrier to NW. Many participants, especially those that are European-based, think NW brings down KLs image and that KL would be far better off with another USA-based partner. And Ive never understood this line of thought.

On the contrary, it was KL who choose NW as its partner and pioneered the modern-day alliances KL joined a group of investors who outbid PanAm for NW in the late 1980s the leveraged buyout, coupled with the recession-Gulf War era, nearly killed NW and is the primary reason NW is still flying DC-10 across the Atlantic today. In addition, NW has built its transatlantic network around KLs AMS hub had NW been on its own, NW would have a more comprehensive (but not necessarily stronger) transatlantic network.

Today, NW/KL offer a very similar transatlantic product each airline has its own strong points, but I think its ridiculous to declare one stronger than the other. As for the age of NWs equipment get over it; only a savvy and informed traveler can tell the difference between a DC-10 and MD-11 from the inside and until recently, both airlines flew a mixture of newer and aging B747

IMO, KLs bluffing - they need NW much more than NW needs them. Consider that NW currently over flys AMS to just three cities (LGW, CDG and FRA) AA, UA, DL, CO and US each have comprehensive transatlantic networks. Do you really think that AA/UA/DL/CO/US are going to split their revenues with KL? On the other hand, if NW/KL severed ties, NW could slap its code on AFs flights ex-CDG (and add flight(s) from MSP and frequency from DTW), COs ex-EWR and DLs ex-ATL/JFK and not miss a beat sometimes this will be more lucrative than the current KL/NW agreement, sometimes it wont be. But KL wouldnt be sorely missed. And they know that.
This has been a special presentation of My Thoughts; thank you for reading and good night!
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