Originally Posted by
sailingfun
I suspect in a few months they will kiss and make up. If not Delta will try and add needed feed to SEA in key markets but it will require additional gates in SEA. They are planning more gates but not for a few years so they would have to be purchased if available.
Thanks for the analysis Sailing.
If we just make up with Alaska and proceed under the status quo, do we feel secure in substantially expanding our international route structure out of SEA and leaving it dependent on a code share partner over whom we do not have satisfactory influence or control?
I've heard it said a hundred times the we wouldn't move on Alaska unless someone forced our hand. That seems to me to be a defensive strategy. I don't think many industry observers would characterize Delta management as being defensive in the last several years. Is it reasonable to say that maybe Delta is forcing this issue to come to a head now, before we go ahead with big plans for Seattle?
Sailing, you said that you feel that our recently added west coast service indicates that we are currently in a dispute with Alaska. At a minimum, isn't that an indicator that Delta management considers the status quo with Alaska unacceptable?