Originally Posted by
eaglefly
One would also have to consider the residual. In the hypothetical case of Delta or anyone else cherry picking the premo assets of AA, the rest would likely be worth nothing to no one. Thus, the price of the cherries would cost more then purchasing the whole pie and after giving a portion of the ripest cherries away to appease regulators, it would be one expensive pie indeed for only some of the ripest cherries.
IMO, fragmentation doesn't work to well for ANY of the parties concerned and the only two viable options for AA are US Airways and Jet Blue.
The scenario you list would have assets divested as well. LCC, B6 and AMR assets or AMR, B6 and LCC assets is a real possibility too. Anyway we cut it, we as employees are probably along for the ride.