Originally Posted by Sink r8

I agree: I can't imagine AF-KLM/AZ sitting still. AZ had to come out of the AF-KLM side of capacity. Why would we be spared the same with VA?

One solution I see is some kind of follow-on transaction with AF-KLM getting a piece of of VA. Maybe concurrent with / as a condition of, VA joining Skyteam (I'm pretty sure AF-KLM would have veto power). So maybe with a stipulation VA can only feed UK flying into LHR. Maybe with a face-saving arrangement on Virgin America, and a discrete face-saving minor role for Branson. Let's face it, the guy is a very marginal airline executive. I can't imagine our board or investors want to hang their hat on his restraint and wisdom.

Either way, there are a lot of pieces yet to be placed on the table, including the EASK ratios already in place, and the potential non-compliance with those. Add a potential addition of LCC to oneworld, and even our own FTDT (how many pilots does it take to fly to LHR at Delta, and at VA?)...

Could be a lot of wheeling-and-dealing here.

I just shivered a little. Is there a draft in here?