av8trup2late

So it appears that US will get AA. (BA will get a piece too)

Give your best guess on the next merger and why.

The Bigs
UA/CAL (Completeing merger. Probably won't do another for a while)
Delta
AA (AA/US) (Current merger. Probably won't do another for a long while)
Southwest


Left to acquire?
Jet Blue (Making $ and big in the east)
Virgin America (International system & growing, but small)
Alaska (Rock solid presence in the NW)

Spirit (New Vegas and Phoenix/Mesa base)
Allegiant (A lot of old Md80's, but AB's on order I hear)
Hawaiian (Just signed JB codeshare)
Frontier (Republic yard sale. I fear the worst but hope the best for those guys)

Hmmm, I guess...

VA & JB merge. JB gets Virgin name and international system, Virgin Atlantic and Virgin Australia gets significantly increased US market feed than just Virgin America. Needs to keep up with BA/AA/US deal.

DL will go after AK. Just fits and DL needs to keep up with AA & UA size.


Your guess?

Dark Knight

anybody? i would of thought someone would have chimed in on this.

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FailOperational

one word... (albeit hyphenated).

anti-trust.

usmc-sgt

What international system does Virgin have that jetBlue doesnt have already? From what I thought, Virgin only flies to 3 or 4 spots in Mexico.

I have no speculation but I do not see Virgin and JB happening. I also wouldnt see JB taking the Virgin name as JB is a more household name in the US.

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Climbto450

I agree. Althought the company cultures / equipment would be an easy fit. JB is more of a household name at least then Virgin America. Maybe a Alaska, Hawaiian and JB three way complementing routes and very little overlap.

usmc-sgt

We all forgot republic. They will pay Virgin and jetBlue.

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johnso29

Republic is desperately trying to go back to a regional only model. The YX/F9 project has exploded in BB's face. It's been a miserable failure. I seriously doubt RAH will be trying to aquire anyone.

xjetsig

No need, repub will start flying CPA stuff for emirates at 5-8 PTS above cost. Serving the iad/Iah/NYC/ord/lax runs. The frontier guys will fly the 319/20s for them and the law darts will feed the buses. Enjoy that pilot shortage charade.

sb diver

Speaking of which, what's the latest on Frontier being possibly purchased?

Aero1900

The future of Frontier is a major question mark. Republic wants to get rid of F9, but no one seems too interested. Its really too bad because F9 is a great airline.

I would like to see Virigin, Jet Blue and Frontier merge