WN buying AS?
10-16-2019 | 01:16 PM
#14
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10-16-2019 | 01:32 PM
#15
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10-16-2019 | 01:56 PM
#16
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I think the NG line is still operating small scale, (military P8) and I’m sure as far as timelines go, re-expanding the line would take much less time than negotiating the purchase of another airline which takes a couple of years. I think airlines would be more inclined to buy reduced price NG’s than spend billions on another airline just to solve a relatively short term problem. UAL seems to be content buying all kinds of used narrow body aircraft to feed their growth. No hint at a buyout/merger to fill their void. I’m not saying future mergers/acquisitions won’t happen but I don’t believe the Max re-certification will drive it.
10-16-2019 | 01:56 PM
#17
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From: Left, right & center
I heard today, just from a fellow crew member, who knows as much or less than the rest of us, that the 737Max never passed the wind tunnel testing. Some how, the aircraft, by virtue of the big ass engines, was not aerodynamic enough to pass the test?? I don’t even know how it works or what the wind tunnel test proves, or is, or if it’s a certification requirement.
The wind tunnel is a tool used to validate designs and gather preliminary data before building and flying the real thing.
10-16-2019 | 06:04 PM
#19
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From: 737 FO
DOT has little to do with it, it's DOJ and FTC.
As to the political practicality of an airline merger...
1. Would it result in a merged entity significantly larger than DL or AA (this is a bit nebulous depending on whether you look at revenue or ASMs or even fleet count)?
2. Would it result in a significant monopoly at any big hub or regional market?
If the answer is no, it would likely pass muster with the current administration. #2 could be (and has been) addressed by divesting gates/slots to balance out competition.
Whether it makes business sense is of course a whole 'nother issue. But corporate leaders in general will assume that two smaller companies in the same business can generally achieve cost savings and efficiencies by merging.
I think AS could be acquired by SW, or merge with anyone smaller. I think they could be acquired by UA with west-coast divestitures (not saying that makes sense). Could maybe be acquired by DL, the merged entity would be bigger than AA but not that much bigger.
As to the political practicality of an airline merger...
1. Would it result in a merged entity significantly larger than DL or AA (this is a bit nebulous depending on whether you look at revenue or ASMs or even fleet count)?
2. Would it result in a significant monopoly at any big hub or regional market?
If the answer is no, it would likely pass muster with the current administration. #2 could be (and has been) addressed by divesting gates/slots to balance out competition.
Whether it makes business sense is of course a whole 'nother issue. But corporate leaders in general will assume that two smaller companies in the same business can generally achieve cost savings and efficiencies by merging.
I think AS could be acquired by SW, or merge with anyone smaller. I think they could be acquired by UA with west-coast divestitures (not saying that makes sense). Could maybe be acquired by DL, the merged entity would be bigger than AA but not that much bigger.
10-16-2019 | 06:51 PM
#20
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From: Volleyball Player
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