Your friends, on the Sanctuary Moon, are walking into a trap.

 

This was in response to a hypothetical merger approval between UAL/JB. As far as what I think about UAL and JB getting approval, if Trump personally approves the merter it'll likely go thru. Brave New World

 

SEC will have something to say. I'm thinking that's the alphabet agency that will have dire consequences for doging and firing. FTC needs to review it and there's 2 partners but 2X that many competitors that will comment on the impact. But to stay with the hypothetical... If the merger goes through there will be pieces for others to acquire and smaller airlines that will invite offers.

 

The only thing UAL needs from JB are the gates in JFK and BOS.

They don't need the planes (yet), staff, or pax

I see a codeshare or some gate agreement thing to get UA premium passengers more NYC/BOS options. Especially on the northeast to FL shuttle.

I think they are just doing some partnership thing to prevent someone else (Alaska) from partnering and doing something similar or buying them.

JB needs a partner. Same as F9 and Spirit.

 

SEC is not involved in approving mergers

If United acquires jetBlue the Department of Justice and Department of Transportation must approve the deal

 

All agencies submit comments to the agency of approval, DOJ in this case. DOT will set conditions and SEC will provide oversight and compliance monitoring assistance. Mergers have less to do with industry and more to do with business combination.

 

So how is united gonna increase it's slots for Europe in which to feed this hypothetical?

It's been posited here and in JB UAL forums that such a thing would increase the domestic foot print for UAL in areas they're not strong at. Our operations in NY are mostly to feed our INTL destinations and feed INT'L into our domestic system. Slots to Europe are lk.ited for us, UAL and AA. Gaining JB would not solve UALs slot limitations, so would then they strictly operate domestic out of JFK? Could they rely on star alliance partners to feed it? Maybe, maybe not. European slots are constrained. That's a fact. I would say same thing for Boston.

We know Kirby has drawn a target on JFK. United pulled out of here before he was CEO and I'm certain he wants a presence here. How he gets that could be to acquireJB, but there are many constraints and limitations on that plan that are not easily surmountable. Could we see a joining of JB and UAL? Not anytime soon. More than likely JB becomes star alliance partner and thus broadens their market.

Regardless I would hope the c- suite is paying attention.

 

I agree with most of it. I am just saying JB has nothing that UA absolutely needs except for pressence in BOS and JFK. It would be better to let them bleed and die out and buy what they need in the bankruptcy sale. Only problem is the amount of time that will take.

Better to partner now in alliance and see how far they can get with what Kirby wants

JB almost lost their slot at AMS until they cried to DOT about removing KLM slots here. It doesn't make sense to fly a 321 to big cities that are slot restricted in Europe like they do now. UA could switch those slots out for a WB with a JV or whatever they are planning

Nothing to do right now but watch and wait it out. Delta is already going to have to fight the Alaska expansion on the west coast once their 787s are delivered. They don't really need another fight at the same time for JFK and BOS.

 

Funny - I didn’t think of the UAL/JB partnership as a defensive move against an AK/Hawaii/JB tie up.

 

Ed has not exactly endeared himself to the current administration. Don’t know about how Kirby sits, but any merger is a lot more likely to be approved now.