Sputnik

When you want to.....

Flint Stone

Nope, won't happen, as we were told many time over. Organic growth only... Hope that changed with our Management change.

Alask Bule Hawaiian Airways, howz that sound

Flyby1206

I haven't heard the phrase 'organic growth' in a long time. I think that concept is dead!

Super EZ E

It's about the deal and how much they can make on wall street. It's not about running an airline. History will repeat.

Banzai Pilot

When you want to go to it.

ShyGuy

What is a dog with fleas? VX has coveted DAL gates, JFK slots, a huge transcontinental market, and starts Hawaii flights (something F9/NK/B6 don't do). It is a serious competitor to United, American, and JetBlue.

full of luv

Not saying VA is a dog with fleas, but a little tarnish on your stated brass:

Hawaii flights are not all that for the company in terms of revenue but they are nice for the pilots.

Many a company has had "hawaii flights" to their demise as there is added cost of maintaining ETOPS and long stage lengths, but very little in terms of business revenue as Hawaii economy is mainly tourism and military, neither of which buy first class seats in great numbers.

All it takes is an oil price spike and a slowing tourism market to turn Hawaii flights from a daydream to a nightmare. Don't believe me, ask ATA, Aloha, heck even ALG has largely undone much of their vaunted Hawaii flying.

Barley

So a a guy running a private equity firm that has largely used investments in carriers as portfolio write-downs predicts that the only thing that will ever happen to airlines (other than liquidations) will continue to happen? That's some groundbreaking stuff.

Rainbows

Hahahahahaha!!!! Did you just say a serious competitor to United American and JetBlue? I needed a good laugh today, thanks for providing me one. Please, please, please I want more of the Shyguy Comedy Hour. Hahahahahahahahahahaha!!!!!!

Bugaboo

I would say Shy is right.....but with the caveat that VA is a competitor on the transcon routes. VA changed the transcon market with their amenities and it has taken a while for the other guys to catch up....and most still have a ways to go. I would venture to say that VA changed that whole landscape and lie flats and Mint would not be offered on those routes without VAs influence. United stumbled over themselves to try and squeeze VA out of Newark-West Coast by tripling their daily schedule and it didnt work....at all. So there is no doubt that VA is viewed as a serious competitor in the lucrative transcon market.
I think time will show that VA will do very well on the Hawaii routes. They are money makers and yield on them are close to, if not better than, the transcon NY-West Coast market. Stage length is dang near the same as 75% of VAs flying now so thats not really a big deal. I would like to see VA start adding cargo to/from Hawaii. That would make more than $25 bucks a bag!
Anyways.....VA is not a viable contender across the board for the big 3 but they are on those lucrative transcon and I think they will be on the Hawaiian flying as well.
If a VA/JB merger ever happens that will be disruptive and will be a threat to the big 3. I dont think it will happen but it would be the most harmonious....as would Spirit/Frontier.