Approved or not UA has said they aren't buying any airlines. United Next is all they talk about and the deliveries and the planned growth in current hubs. The last thing United wants is to acquire another airline right now. The limiting factor isn't "government approval". United doesn't need to buy another airline right now. They made it pretty clear at the standards meeting. Its all about United Next and nothing else.

 

Well…..then…….I mean why should an executive leadership group ever have reason to be clandestine. Hmm I’m having trouble maybe it’s:


Making misleading statements or predictions about a stock price during a merger can be a form of securities fraud, which is broadly prohibited by SEC Rule 10b-5.

This includes any intentionally false or misleading statements or omissions of material facts that would influence an investor's decision. In a merger, this can involve misleading investors about the company's financial health, the true value of the deal, or the synergies expected from the transaction.

Securities fraud can also occur if predictions or actions are made with the deliberate intent to manipulate the stock price for personal gain. Tactics include:

Circulating misinformation to drive the stock price up or down.

Not saying it’s happening, but if it is There not going to broadcast it at the Standards meeting.

 

Well why the partnership then? Seems like United is getting what it wants without a merger and taking on a bunch of debt. Why not just do it?

If you're waiting for United to buy Jetblue you are going to be waiting a very long time.

 

This is the best outcome for United. UA would get a bunch of JFK gates out of an AA/JB merger. I'm hoping that happens.

 

check path

 

I would say UA wins in this agreement. Paisly is something they outsourced, now they get it for free. Peaks slots, again free. All the agreed to is a remora like relationship.

 

That is an excellent point. I have been at JetBlue for 13 years now. Our guys always talked about organic growth and how we don’t want to get into a messy merger or impact our “culture”. They also said they would never charge for bags and a first class product just isn’t JetBlue. I see no reason to doubt them do you?

 

He is already at United.
Btw did they discuss project Bluesky at previous standards meetings or did it come as a surprise?

 

A merger is lengthy and costly. It makes zero business to buy anyone right now. Kirby has said (outside of the stands meeting) that a merger would delay United Next by several years. It’s not just JCBAs with labor groups, it’s also reconfiguring planes, integrating IT software, consolidating HQs and training departments, getting everyone on the same SOPs, and not to mention the different cultures to work through.

 

I’m firmly in the not going to happen camp, but to say that because they’re not talking about it or not hinting at it isn’t the best argument against any merger or acquisition. At B6 we were always told it was all about organic growth until out of nowhere we announced we were trying to acquire Virgin America. When that failed, we again were told we’d be sticking to the organic growth plan until one day, again, out of nowhere we were going to acquire Spirit.
This is how any M&A in any industry works. To those not deep on the inside of the companies involved nobody actually knows until it’s announced.

United is on cruise control right now, making money hand over fist and by far has the most ambitious stand alone plan for growth out of any airline, perhaps in history. Whether all those ambitious plans pan out is TBD. So far they’ve made good on a lot of promises and I don’t doubt they have every intention on making good on their plans. That said, it’s lofty and is contingent on a market and economy that is just going to hum along for the next 5-10 years. Things change on a dime.

Anyway, it’s been my experience that it’s usually what you don’t see coming that ends up happening. At this point I wouldn’t be surprised to wake up one day to find out it’s Southwest that shocks the industry and wants to merge with JetBlue. Never a dull moment in this industry.