Sink and ACL65,

We agree. Just a couple of angles to add perspective:

The United States has Department of Homeland Security has rules in place which make connecting through the United States unfeasible. To walk from gate E15 to E14 requires at "Transit Visa" which costs money and can be anywhere from "hard to get" to "impossible." The result is that many Asians avoid buying tickets on NWA/Delta. It might not make sense to buy an Air Canada ticket to go from Manila to Cabo San Lucas, but Air Canada can get an additional $1,000 per economy ticket because for most passengers between countries, transiting the United States is simply not permitted.

Asia has massive population centers and I've never met an Asian who does not want to get out and see the World the second they can afford to do so. The way to tap the discretionary travel market there is to go cheap, and again on a scale we can scarcely imagine. The only limit will be crash worthiness and Certification issues.

Having a hub outside of the Department of Homeland Security's domain is an important strategic asset for Delta. The rub is, management can satisfy both of these needs without "Delta" as we know it. In fact, if I were in their shoes I'd go about it exactly as they are.

It is much tougher to insert yourself into an illogical labor situation as a union. If we had a track record of insisting on inclusive mergers when we do one of these "virtual mergers" that would be one thing. Instead our history is to scope it and limit it. In this case, I don't see how that really works to our long term benefit.

Also consider most of South Asia is Muslim. Muslim's hate freedom, perspective and education. As a prominent American brand providing the freedom to travel, learn and see the World, we will be a target. There are some parts of the World that scare me and Bin Ladin's brothers (literally) in South Asia are a frightening prospect for a commercial operator.

This Cranky Flier guy did not intend to provide a labor analysis, but they are spot on. We might shore up our point to point from the US, but with this as a Joint Venture there really is no reason for Delta pilots to actually perform the flying obtained under our 5th freedom rights.