Who would be the next Skyteam member?
#1216
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Now if VS aligns itself to be purely a TATL operation and receives regulatory dispensation to enter the AF/AZ/DL/KL transatlantic cartel it might be a different matter.
That's assuming VS wants to pay the membership fee of course.
#1218
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Would AF/KL/AZ want a competing European hub in Skyteam? I think they will strategically not want that to happen.
Now if VS aligns itself to be purely a TATL operation and receives regulatory dispensation to enter the AF/AZ/DL/KL transatlantic cartel it might be a different matter.
Now if VS aligns itself to be purely a TATL operation and receives regulatory dispensation to enter the AF/AZ/DL/KL transatlantic cartel it might be a different matter.
#1219
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#1220
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All the more reason for AF/KL/AZ(/and UX?) to want VS in the Skyteam immunized joint venture - they would get to share in the profits.
However, Delta and Virgin have a separate immunized joint venture of their own, on just London-North America, outside of the Skyteam joint venture.
I can see no reason why Delta or Virgin therefore require, or would want, Virgin to join Skyteam. Delta can already co-operate and co-ordinate with Virgin to the fullest extent possible under the law; that gives them greater access to London without the need to share profits with anyone else; any other points in the UK and in Europe can be reached via their partnerships with Air France, KLM and Alitalia; it may have made sense for Virgin to receive feed at Heathrow from AF/KL/AZ but they (or, rather, Delta) have shown no appetite for "sharing" Virgin with them.
However, Delta and Virgin have a separate immunized joint venture of their own, on just London-North America, outside of the Skyteam joint venture.
I can see no reason why Delta or Virgin therefore require, or would want, Virgin to join Skyteam. Delta can already co-operate and co-ordinate with Virgin to the fullest extent possible under the law; that gives them greater access to London without the need to share profits with anyone else; any other points in the UK and in Europe can be reached via their partnerships with Air France, KLM and Alitalia; it may have made sense for Virgin to receive feed at Heathrow from AF/KL/AZ but they (or, rather, Delta) have shown no appetite for "sharing" Virgin with them.
#1221
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All the more reason for AF/KL/AZ(/and UX?) to want VS in the Skyteam immunized joint venture - they would get to share in the profits.
However, Delta and Virgin have a separate immunized joint venture of their own, on just London-North America, outside of the Skyteam joint venture.
I can see no reason why Delta or Virgin therefore require, or would want, Virgin to join Skyteam. Delta can already co-operate and co-ordinate with Virgin to the fullest extent possible under the law; that gives them greater access to London without the need to share profits with anyone else; any other points in the UK and in Europe can be reached via their partnerships with Air France, KLM and Alitalia; it may have made sense for Virgin to receive feed at Heathrow from AF/KL/AZ but they (or, rather, Delta) have shown no appetite for "sharing" Virgin with them.
However, Delta and Virgin have a separate immunized joint venture of their own, on just London-North America, outside of the Skyteam joint venture.
I can see no reason why Delta or Virgin therefore require, or would want, Virgin to join Skyteam. Delta can already co-operate and co-ordinate with Virgin to the fullest extent possible under the law; that gives them greater access to London without the need to share profits with anyone else; any other points in the UK and in Europe can be reached via their partnerships with Air France, KLM and Alitalia; it may have made sense for Virgin to receive feed at Heathrow from AF/KL/AZ but they (or, rather, Delta) have shown no appetite for "sharing" Virgin with them.
#1222
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#1223
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Who would be the next Skyteam member?
2002 KM was annoubced to be joining skyteam. Today they signed a new codeshare with AF making even their direct flights between AMS and MLA bookable under AF flightnumber. Is that a sign?
#1224
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No. Airlines, especially small regional ones, will codeshare with as many partners as is commercially viable.
#1225
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Please god, no! I'd hate to see beautiful HA tied into DL's horrible FFP. Would HA still be a Group 4 partner along with KE?
I fail to see why they are not placed to join. Sure, they don't have the expansive network of the big legacy carriers serving the mainland, but they do serve the people of Hawaii very well. HNL-JFK is only served by HA and all the west coast gateways are served. In addtion HA offers nonstops to BNE, ICN, SYD, HND, AKL, and PEK.
I fail to see why they are not placed to join. Sure, they don't have the expansive network of the big legacy carriers serving the mainland, but they do serve the people of Hawaii very well. HNL-JFK is only served by HA and all the west coast gateways are served. In addtion HA offers nonstops to BNE, ICN, SYD, HND, AKL, and PEK.
#1227
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I fail to see why they are not placed to join. Sure, they don't have the expansive network of the big legacy carriers serving the mainland, but they do serve the people of Hawaii very well. HNL-JFK is only served by HA and all the west coast gateways are served. In addtion HA offers nonstops to BNE, ICN, SYD, HND, AKL, and PEK.
Then look at it from HA's perspective. Their current strategy on longhaul is to act as a growing cheap hub between North America and Asia and Australasia. That puts them against QF, AA, JL and to some extent DL.
I don't see how joining any alliance really helps that strategy. You can make a case I think for SkyTeam in the extra Australia traffic it would bring maybe with a DL/HA tie up there if regulators approved. And I suppose the same could be said for Star. But actually my opinion is that OneWorld would be the worst deal for both sides.
Oneworld's key limitation at the moment is the derth of Chinese domestic members. China plans to launch about 10 full service airlines next year, once the dust settles I think that will be where OneWorld will be looking to make its next expansion.
Last edited by Calchas; Mar 22, 2015 at 1:47 pm Reason: SkyTeam is only poor to AU from US
#1228
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SkyTeam airlines serving Australia includes
CI
CZ
DL
GA
KE
MU
VN
#1229
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Indeed I should have been more explicit. I think HA could have some traction there possibly. But I don't really buy into the idea that HA wants to get involved in an alliance or that an alliance wants HA.
#1230
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It's been more than 6 months, but there is no new airlines to join SkyTeam Alliance. It's been a while.
Who will be next new Skyteam Alliance?
Let the speculation begin.
Who will be next new Skyteam Alliance?
Let the speculation begin.