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Ameriflight, and AEX before that (Call sign "Desert," little 134 1/2 op out of KPOC, was going out of business when I went to AMF).

So we bow up, compete and win on the west coast vs Alaska! And then they're left in tatters.

And then what happens? We merge?

What happens if you organically grow the west coast and then merge? Seems to me it'd be substantial overlapping and overstaffing.

This is precisely why the Alaskan merge option is in the rearview mirror.

I don't think we merge. I think that Salmon boat has already sailed, to Juno! :D (No offense to the Timbo/Sailingfun types.) My (extremely cloudy) crystal ball states:

1) We organically grow Seattle,
2) Alaska's market share is decreased,
3) American or Southwestern buys them,
4) Southwestern treats them like they treated AirTran,
5) Costs rise like they did in Atlanta for Southwestern,
6) Virgin America/JetBlue merge and get the gate space that Southwestern had to divest in the purchase,
7) Everyone is happy.

GJ

Bump????????

I think that's the only option for a merger at this point. It was either merge when we were friends with minimal competition...or merge by scooping them off the tarmac after the battle, and hope the carnage has forced them to shrink and eliminate the overlap themselves as the wheels fell off.

I'm not saying Alaska will disappear or crumble under the assault; I'm just saying that crushing them is the only way the merger would be approved at this point.

No way the DOJ will approve a merger that eliminates the new competition in SEA that is getting more intense by the hour.

You cloudy crystal ball at least sounds plausible.

No synergies, or not enough to invest in a merger. Also, it would be a slap across the face of ALPA by management, because the merger would be no where near as smooth as the NWA-DAL tie-up.

The good thing is, some kid who is about to go to his prom will have to sweat the bottom of the list.