Originally Posted by
forgot to bid
Would the government allow more consolidation?
I could see if LCC was split in two but if we acquired CLT/PHL Lord help us. We'd acquire LCC and shut down CLT and then one day PHL but we'd keep NYC! Which we already have anyways.
But none of this would happen before we get the seniority list together and then of course the LCC pilots would want DOH and then to vote out ALPA. Boy doesn't that just sound like fun!
Or we acquire the America West pilots, who want relative seniority. We get PHX, Ferd would be ecstatic.
So really the only real winners here is Ferd.
And when Ferd wins, we all win.
Ftb:
I hate to speculate to a certain level because I get accused of knowing something, but I really cannot see us acquiring anything more than assets from LCC. Maybe a few pilots and other personnel with the deal, but I cannot see us buying PHL. It would make sense for us to buy and shut down CLT, but that would be costly.
What I really see is AMR, and LCC along with B6. LCC's international assets would be sold, AMR's MIA hub would be paired down and maybe some sold off. Other those routes will moved to CLT where there would be better connecting traffic. MIA would still be a big player for AMR, but CLT would be the money maker. With this three way tie up, AMR/LCC would not need B6's JFK terminal and frankly that is what DAL needs.
Some signs of a shift to CLT is/are the slot authorities to SA we gave them in the slot deal.
We have had a horrible time with the slot swap, B6 may make some sense for DAL, but the synergies and product premium that B6 gets would make the deal a wash for DAL after the fight and slot loss that would ensue. Winning the terminal is imo DAL's goal. If you recall two years ago when the terminal upgrade was announced, I stated then, that this look like half of the plan. B6's terminal in JFK is what I would call the second half of the plan.