And where exactly dd I use the word "DEFECTION", I believe my words were (with original typos, "hae dsappeared over the years due to insolvency". EI left, because they became a LCC, it is not that EI is changing, but rather that 1w through its welcome of AB has extremely lowered its standards. Swiss had in fact agreed to be a 1w member and for a bunch of reasons never enetered, much of this had to do with BA trying to "roll" them, considering the fact that they later did join *, that is a big diference(and I do recall 1w materials with Swiss on them at many airports for a short time). Canadian and Mexicana are two more examples of lost carriers. Again other than CO (and its controlled carrier Copa) leaving due to the purchase of NW by DL and CO's later purchase by UA, ST has never lost a carrier, and has only grown.

Easy enough to see Former Members in the Wiki link on the original post

Summarizing the wiki post:

*A Former Members
(AN) Ansett Airlines 1999-2001, defunct
(MX) Mexicana 2000-2004, later joined Oneworld
(FM) Shanghai Airlines 2007-2010, left voluntarily
(RG) Varig 1997-2007, ejected

ST Former Members
(CO) Continental Airlines 2004-2009, changed to Star Alliance
(CM) Copa Airlines 2007-2009, left with Continental
(NW) Northwest 2004-2009, merged with Delta

OW Former Members
(EI) Aer Lingus 2000-2007, left voluntarily
(CP) Canadian Airlines 1999-2001, acquired by Air Canada
(MX) Mexicana 2009-2010, defunct

I vote for OneSky

Glad to see someone add some levity ;-)

EI left because they didn't want to pay to link up their systems with JL. Their changing business model was just a convenient excuse.

I'd disagree that OW is in the weakest position. Contrary to some of the posts above, it's strength is that it works out of some of the world's most important hub cities. In fact, LHR, JFK, HKG, NRT & SYD alone is a pretty impressive set of global hubs to call your home.

ST has definitely improved, although the introduction of carriers such as GA is a little worrying. Indonesia might be a major future market, but the country still has a long way to go in respect to aviation safety (or even safety in general). Interesting country, but it's a long way from top of the pack neighbour Singapore, or even the up and coming giant of Malaysia.

AB arguably provides a significantly better product in Y than either BA or AF, so your conclusions don't really hold water in respect to it's introduction into OW. In fact I think it suffers from many of the same successes such as DJ, which I am sure both ST and *A would love to have, and a far cry from the likes of Sleazyjet or Liarair.

LX also never joined OW, so I don't think you can chalk that one up. MX also was not in bad shape necessarily when it left *A. It just decided that it was not in it's interest to keep going down the *A path and cosying up to UA.

Finally in respect to CP, don't forget that AC also nearly went bust. Neither carrier was in particularly good shape, and it has only been in recent years that AC has started to look good again.

Again, I think you are forgetting a little recent history. CO left ST and switched to *A before the UA merger. CO's leaving may have been related to the 'golden share', but it had nothing to do with a merger which at the time had not been inked.

Also CO no longer controls Copa. In fact I don't believe it owns any shares anymore, and has not done for getting towards 3 years. In the latter years it actually had a pretty small shareholding. The only thing tying the two together is really OnePass.

EI is a very poor cousin to AB. Comparing the two is pretty unfair.

I've flown AB four times in the last 2 months. It is an LCC plain and simple, A pig in lipstick is still a pig, its not ust the seats you know.............its the entire attitude. Regarding CO, you have just reiterated pretty much exactly what I said. As for Copa, while CO may not have a shareholding anymore, as you point out its Onepass integration pretty much ensures that it follows CO.

yes 1W does have some good hubs............perhaps in the year 2040 when a new runway is built at LHR that will lead to some growth there, unfortunately as it stands this mans that BA is about 20% smaller than it was a decade ago and may shrink more. JFK is a nice hub to have..........everyone has it if they want it and DL is the 900 pound gorilla there. HKG is somewhat static, and several mainland airports have been growing at 300% the rate of HKG in recent and coming years, NRT was everyone's dream in the 80's and early 90's, not a bad place to have but DL is the thrid biggest carier there and KAL the fourth. SYD? That's a reach. Its a nice monopoly to have, but ultimately not very important.

I did not realize knows CP is already acquiring by AC in early 2001. I don't really remember which former airlines who already joined the alliance. I remember EI is former DL codeshare for a short-time and EI is switched to AA. Then EI is already joined codeshare with UA.

NOTE: The OP was tactfully PM'ed the above info 4 days ago. As hfly has not corrected and hfly & Traveloguy continue to discuss defection it may be relevant to post in the forum.

As you generally fly BA in J, you are probably not aware of what happens behind the curtain. Otherwise you would probably have to acknowledge AB is probably better than BA in Y.

I would also disagree that OnePass is a big tie between Copa and Continental. Considering Copa did not even elect to join *A until recently, I suggest that speaks volumes.

Hard to say what will actually happen at LHR, and I doubt it will be as long as 2040 until a new runway is built. I would also disagree with your view on SYD considering the how many carriers actively compete on the Roo Route.

BA had considered buying KLM while AA was toying with NW. Anything can happen.
I don't like BA's mileage accrual.

Isn't AF/KL larger than BA/IB? So it would be AF buying BA which would push Willie out. I rather doubt that is going to happen.

Yaatri referred to KLM (pre-AF)

Willie & Doug Parker aren't likely do to anything to shorten their own career, regardless who it would help.

Correct. Do you remember what I am talking about?

No, competition benefits consumers like me. Will BA and AF agree to this?

Competition benefits every one. I am no advocating KLM and BA merger. It was discussed in 2000, long before AF-KLM merger, Around the same time NW-AA merger was floated around too. BA/KLM merger isn't going to happen now, unless for some reason, AF spins KLM off, which is also unlikely.

What would be interesting to contemplate is the aviation scene in Europe in a hypothetical case when EMU crumbles and European countries adopt their former currencies.