If people claim they are hearing things about mergers, typically you can rest assured that what is out there as rumor isn’t going to happen.
I think things at Alaska have become so toxic, and with jetBlue, Spirit, and Frontier engaged in possible merger scenarios, people are clinging to the hope of any sort of change here.
Alaska just got done overspending for Virgin America and all that will be left is essentially that they eliminated a competitor, only to buy another larger Airbus airline as they finish eliminating the Airbus fleet that they have. In my opinion it’s ludicrous and wishful thinking.
Alaska still makes money but they are irrelevant on a national scale, and with what appears to be a total lack of leadership, combined with incredible arrogance they may find themselves in some trouble soon as other airlines grow and take an interest in their precious PNW.