Originally Posted by
flysnoopy76
i
I can’t see Alaska management seeking to buy or merge with anyone at present, if that day comes and they have any say in it I can’t see them touching any carrier which has a fleet of Airbus. Sun Country could happen but I doubt it, I have heard that we tried for Amazon flying and management found the terms of the deal undesirable. Outside of that Sun Country doesn’t provide much upside given as I said before MSP would almost certainly be shut down. Yes you would get some airplanes and pilots, but is that worth the headaches of a merger or acquisition.
If something happens I think it’s more likely a larger carrier comes after Alaska.
Agree with you about AS management not wanting more airbus airframes, especially not a few hundred more. The only thing I'll say in response re: Amazon Air is that I believe all of this applies pre-pandemic. I'm not saying it's going to make a huge difference, but it's possible that some things have been/are being re-evaluated given we are in a very different world since 2018-2019. I just don't think this should be written off given how much has changed and how attractive a diverse revenue stream is right now and in the future, especially with the freight business at all time highs. Airlines all over the world are rushing to get into freight dogging and convert or buy freighter aircraft for this very reason. Not saying AS is going to randomly step up its freight operations, but I am saying that their desired relationship with Amazon and their perspective on SY's Amazon Air contract might be different now versus 3-4 years ago.
Frankly, the more I think about it, the more I'd bet G4/SY is equally as likely if not more so. Much more similar business model, both will be Boeing operators, and G4 can probably do the Amazon Air contract as low or lower than SY's operating costs.