Which tie up do you think would be the worst for us here at DAL, a UAL/CAL tie up or a UAL/LCC tie up?

I think a AA/JB tie up without ANY sort of slot divestiture to DAL would most likely be a bad deal for us here. I think AMR would more than likely pull the same card we're playing now with SWA, basically if forced to release a percentage of slots back to the federal government, AMR will attempt to directly influence that transfer to anyone but us. Either way I think a merger there would significantly hurt our operations at JFK.

Deadhead;
Maybe we would get slots out of the AMR deal. At a min I would expect us to get a terminal. Preferably AMR's underutilized one. I would venture to bet that the DOJ would make them give all of Jet Blue's LGA slots to LUV.

UAL-CAL would be the strongest competitor for us. They would have a good route network with about as little overlap as possible. CLE would go away, but other than that, they work really well

If we are looking out for only us UAUA-LLC would be the on we would want. Why? Past actions predict future results. They would have major labor issues. Add to that, there is overlap in DCA/IAD with their two fortresses.

Either way, the comment RA made back in 08 about being the first one out of the gate will begin to take on greater meaning as we are in effect operationally merged going in to a growing economy. These guys get to spend that time trying to integrate, while we get to go after their route networks.

Pretty. How much did that cost?

Dtw-gru
 

Delta Air Lines Plans First Flights between Detroit Hub and South America
Flight to Sao Paulo would strengthen Detroit's position as a leading international gateway, complement existing Delta service to five Brazilian destinations.

Delta has requested authorization from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) to introduce two weekly flights between Detroit and Sao Paulo beginning Nov. 4, 2010. Delta already holds certain rights to operate Sao Paulo service, but requires DOT permission to fly from Detroit. The airline would operate the flights using 216-seat Boeing 767-300ER aircraft with 35 seats in BusinessElite and 181 seats in Economy Class.

I think logistically, pilot merger integration is going to be a nightmare in either case, but probably far worse in a UAL/LCC tie up.

Gaining the extra slots at JFK would be a great deal for us, and as far as strong presence from SWA, I think it probably wouldn't effect us significantly in that market unless SWA starts flying overseas.

From a labor standpoint, hopefully whichever two groups are forced into a merger come to an amicable SLI, which I know will be extremely difficult, and then dig their feet deep in the ground and really bring back compensation to where it should be. Anyway you hash it our bankruptcy contract + $1 isn't going to hack it.

Deadhead, agreed.

I would like to see the UAUA/CAL for one reason. CAL has more protective scope and it is a chance for them to fix a lot of UAUA's mess.

Didn't realize you had switched to military acronyms. We called them RIO's and BN's.

AA/JB will not be forced to divest slots like us. AA is the government's chosen winner as well as JB. The Junta in power does not play by the rules that we have come to expect. Do you think those two are hooking up by coincidence?

Lufthansa is in STAR and owns a chunk of JB. AA is in One World and yet they are getting in bed together. Is someone going to be jealous?

JMHO

You are not a man until you fly an NDB BDHI only with no tail on the Bearing Pointer!
Buzz, can I get an AMEN?

I'm not up on pensions like you are, but I'm not sure you are correct about DAL not being legally able to end pensions without being in BK. What law is forcing them to fund a pension plan for it's non-contract employees? Just wondering. As far as I know it is not mandatory for a company to have or continue to have a pension fund. What say you?