Originally Posted by
BunkerF16
What Kirby WANTS and what he has to do could very well be 2 different things. Of course he wants to pick at the JB bones and get them for pennies on the dollar. But that more than likely won't be possible. AK didn't want to overpay for VA either but they paid a significant premium to keep JB from getting them and infiltrating the West Coast. If it's true that there are 3 airlines (at least) kicking the tires, best laid plans often go out the window when you're forced to chance directions due to external forces you can't control.
I think that the real issue is that this not what Kirby wants and what he is willing to do to get it. I see it as a matter of what he thinks is needed and at what cost. The marketing agreement that is already in place gives him most of what he feels is needed. His foot is in the door and he can chip away at more. As long as JetBlue is in business, he has most of what he wants without the mess and expense of a merger. If they follow the path of Spirit there will be plenty of bones to pick over.