I'll turn this around:

Apparently, the NRT hub was worth a merger, not just a billion, because the Pacific was that important to our board and to Anderson. I'll take that on face value for now. If that's true, then potentially, we are seeing the entire rationale to our merger undermined.

It's not a question of NRT O&D vs. NRT O&D. It's all a question of Tokyo O&D, and one airport is (evidently) better than another. That means that introducing HND flights is an attack on our hub. If UAL is weak in NRT, their problem is solved in their alliance with ANA and HND flights. AMR doesn't have a hub to defend: all they need is JAL to have HND access OR they can get more HND access. It simply doesn't matter to the others, under the status quo, that the Japanese want to open up HND (but just for them). One way or another, their position is good (except if AMR loses JAL)

But for the addition of HND flights, this would simply be a fun exercise in jacking up American's price. As it stands maybe it's worth a substanital investment, to enhance the monstrous investment that the merger itself represents.

So we've defintiely got a dog in this fight.


None of this means JAL, or HND, orany of this is good for you and me, nor does it mean we should support this just for the sake of getting another merit badge... but I think it's pretty obvious why Delta cares about a billion worth.

I think the Haneda scenario was on Delta's radar when the merger with NWA went down. That being said, why would Delta merge with NWA (5th Freedom Rights) then buy a stake in JAL and thereby minimize the assets of the acquisition?

Let's hope DAL mngt. doesn't diminish our presence in the orient if this deal goes through. Let's also hope that DALPA holds the line and protects the Delta flying and or potential flying in the future.

There, I fixed that for you...:D

Cheers
George

You nailed the intent on that, Thanks. http://usera.ImageCave.com/Dr5115/thumb.gif

Doesn't AA also Codeshare with Cathay Pacific?

This about sums it up!
Think of DCA and IAD. IAD is OK but never was the airport it was envisioned because of DCA. In Tokyo's case most were moved to NRT to make the point moot, but now they want grant access to Haneda to Japanese carriers not us. We are waving the BS flag on this. Winning this deal with JAL allows us the access to Haneda through a domestic carrier. (It is about two hrs closer than NRT, unless you take the super train)

Our desire makes sense here, but as many have pointed out, we could lose our flying there one way or another. As slow has pointed out we may still have the NRT slots, but why would we be flying out of NRT and Haneda to the same cities.

Like I said many posts ago there is downside potential for the DAL pilots no matter which way this goes.
Get JAL, DAL agrees to JAL doing X service.
Lose JAL, Lose Haneda (maybe) and our NRT position is compromised.


In the end Japan needs to open Haneda up to everyone not just their carriers. UAUA, and AMR can deal with that not happening. We on the other had had Haneda went to NRT and could be left holding the bag.

Slow indicates that other options are riskier. Yep, it would require good old competition half a world away.

I suspect it was too, as the whole Notion of Open Skies (two words not one slow) was on the table prior to that.

They sure do:

And with Alaska Air:

AA is pretty much AK on most of the flights North South on the West Coast...

Cheers
George

Ok so with all the fear in the air, I see the JAL JV working in favor of the Delta pilot...

Here are my dots:

-JAL need to cut cost.
One way to do that (one of the scenarios according to my friends in Tokyo) is to have DAL perform flying for JAL: JAL cuts all flights in direct competition with DAL and has DAL carry the code. DAL pilots based in Guam fly "regional" routes in Asia Pacific.

-JAL needs cash.
JAL still has 16 MD90, these AC become freed up with the new Skyteam codeshare an can be turned into cash by selling them to DAL.

Compared to the AK codeshare, I see this JAL JV with a lot more upside and flying potential for Delta pilots...

Cheers
George

Unless the Japanese government want to save face, save Japanese jobs, and grant us "access" to Haneda and in turn we let JAL operate our flights out of NRT.....

It can go both ways. It depends on what our company and the Japanese are willing to give up to get the deal done. It could go bad either way.