Battle For Seattle: AS/DL Frenemies in 2014?
12-08-2013, 08:42 AM
#21
Can't abide NAI
Joined APC: Jun 2007
Position: Douglas Aerospace post production Flight Test & Work Around Engineering bulletin dissembler
Posts: 11,990
Overall, Alaska is a good airline and product. IMHO, better than Delta was in the NW a few years ago. Delta has become more competitive in the last 12 months. Delta will gain momentum as Seattle is a fall back position to problems with the Japanese government. It is not so much that Delta is targeting Alaska, but that Delta is having to make tactical decisions to preserve f-NWA's Pacific network.
Had an interesting conversation with a Director level manager at a large employer in the Pacific Northwest. Even at her level corporate travel is run through a management company and put on Delta's network. There is a lot of mutual admiration between her Company and Delta.
The customer made some disparaging comments about Alaska (which I don't think were completely accurate and fair, but we were on a widebody international lie flat config which is far superior to most domestic product) Anyhow, the conversation drove home the fact that Alaska will find it difficult to compete with Delta's corporate maketing machine and offerings.
Again, I do not think Alaska is being targeted. Delta still values the partnership. Alaska just has the misfortune of occupying the fox hole that Delta needs to jump into as the Japanese Imperialists retake their homeland.
Had an interesting conversation with a Director level manager at a large employer in the Pacific Northwest. Even at her level corporate travel is run through a management company and put on Delta's network. There is a lot of mutual admiration between her Company and Delta.
The customer made some disparaging comments about Alaska (which I don't think were completely accurate and fair, but we were on a widebody international lie flat config which is far superior to most domestic product) Anyhow, the conversation drove home the fact that Alaska will find it difficult to compete with Delta's corporate maketing machine and offerings.
Again, I do not think Alaska is being targeted. Delta still values the partnership. Alaska just has the misfortune of occupying the fox hole that Delta needs to jump into as the Japanese Imperialists retake their homeland.
12-08-2013, 08:48 AM
#22
No longer cares
Joined APC: Mar 2008
Position: 767er Captain
Posts: 12,109
Originally Posted by Aspilot
That could very well be. Alaska management and the BOD have for the most part been against any merger. Of course we all know if they are going to make a bundle they will dump us yesterday.
There was a meeting with all the major players at Alaska here a week or so ago. I think this unrest with Ma Delta has gotten their attention, thus the move into SLC. It's also true that we can't cover all the flying that Delta needs to build their SEA international flying. The fact is we are extremely thin on staffing. We don't have the capacity to get the training done that we need to account for attrition and the current schedule let alone additional flying required to move Deltas international connections.
Things are changing here for sure. Rebranding the company, new uniforms etc...We are either going to expand and be a player or get gobbled up by someone. Time will tell.
There was a meeting with all the major players at Alaska here a week or so ago. I think this unrest with Ma Delta has gotten their attention, thus the move into SLC. It's also true that we can't cover all the flying that Delta needs to build their SEA international flying. The fact is we are extremely thin on staffing. We don't have the capacity to get the training done that we need to account for attrition and the current schedule let alone additional flying required to move Deltas international connections.
Things are changing here for sure. Rebranding the company, new uniforms etc...We are either going to expand and be a player or get gobbled up by someone. Time will tell.
As to the other scenario, I think you are way too expensive for anybody to buy right now. DAL has too much debt to do that at the moment, and everybody else is just now getting their mergers consummated... The one thing is though, your stock is relatively cheap, and you have a good balance sheet...
12-08-2013, 09:14 AM
#23
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Oct 2012
Position: 190 captain and “Pro-pilot”
Posts: 2,918
Originally Posted by Erdude32
I called this 9 months ago in March. The AK codeshare with AA in one thing, the codeshare with Emerites is a game changer. We will continue to build our (re-build since really what we are taking about Are all former Western routes)...west coast routes and possibly open a narrow body category (717?) in Sea and when the pieces of the puzzle are put together we will TOTALLY end the codeshare with
Alaska....and none too soon. The same thing needs to happen with JetBlue & Virgin America, but right now Alaska has been targeted and is nothing but good news for West Coast based pilots. Combine that with the 98% retirement rate in the left seat of the 3 west coast bases in the next 10 years & LET THE GOOD TIMES ROLL!!!
Alaska....and none too soon. The same thing needs to happen with JetBlue & Virgin America, but right now Alaska has been targeted and is nothing but good news for West Coast based pilots. Combine that with the 98% retirement rate in the left seat of the 3 west coast bases in the next 10 years & LET THE GOOD TIMES ROLL!!!
I guess DELTA will just kill everyone?
12-08-2013, 09:25 AM
#24
Banned
Joined APC: Jan 2006
Position: A-320
Posts: 6,929
Jesus, i hope they at least give out Kneepads to the DAL guys when they get the opportunity to meet "Mr Anderson", lol
12-08-2013, 10:04 AM
#25
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jun 2007
Position: CA
Posts: 1,207
Originally Posted by Timbo
South West also ran Delta out of Orland. Remember Song? And before that, Delta Express?
To which I replied, "South West seems to make it work, and with zero first class seats, they have never lost money hauling families to Disney World."
To which I replied, "South West seems to make it work, and with zero first class seats, they have never lost money hauling families to Disney World."
12-08-2013, 10:12 AM
#26
Runs with scissors
Joined APC: Dec 2009
Position: Going to hell in a bucket, but enjoying the ride .
Posts: 7,728
Originally Posted by shoelu
Sometimes some of you guys get a little bent out of shape over Delta Airlines as opposed to Delta Air Lines, so what's up with South West? Wow, did I actually post that out loud?
Is it supposed to be South West Ern?
Or Southwesternernershoelucansuckmyballs?
I have a hard time with words...
12-08-2013, 10:24 AM
#27
Gets Weekends Off
Thread Starter
Joined APC: Jul 2013
Position: Wicked Artsy, Moderately Fartsy
Posts: 194
Originally Posted by JoeyMeatballs
Jesus, i hope they at least give out Kneepads to the DAL guys when they get the opportunity to meet "Mr Anderson", lol
It does not seem to be a win from a DL pilot perspective as most of this domestic change is another boost to SkyWest as the majority of the expansion uses CRJ900s:
- Delta Connection carrier SkyWest Airlines is scheduled to start the daily Vancouver flights on June 5, using 76-seat, two-class CRJ-900s.
- Four new daily nonstop flights from San Diego beginning June 2nd, 2014 will be aboard a 76-seat CRJ-900.
- Four new daily nonstop flights from Portland, Ore. beginning Sept. 2nd, 2014 will be aboard a 76-seat CRJ-900.
- One summer seasonal flight from Anchorage, Alaska beginning June 5th, 2014 in addition to returning seasonal service which begins on May 23rd, 2014 using a Boeing 737-800.
- The daily, seasonal (May 29 to Aug. 31) Fairbanks service is scheduled using a Boeing 737-800.
12-08-2013, 10:28 AM
#28
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Sep 2008
Position: "Prof" button manipulator
Posts: 1,685
I give up, what's up widat?
Is it supposed to be South West Ern?
Or Southwesternernershoelucansuckmyballs?
I have a hard time with words...
Is it supposed to be South West Ern?
Or Southwesternernershoelucansuckmyballs?
I have a hard time with words...
Bravo.....................Bravo!!!!!
12-08-2013, 10:40 AM
#29
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Dec 2009
Position: 7ERB
Posts: 2,039
Originally Posted by gooddeal
I suppose this should quiet any DL/AS merger or acquisitions for awhile...
The 'frenemy' strikes back: Alaska Air takes on Delta
Alaska Airlines' schedule for its new Salt Lake City routes will be as follows:
+ Los Angeles: 1 daily round-trip flight on Boeing 737 aircraft, beginning June 11
+ Portland: 2 daily round-trip flights -- one on a Boeing 737 and one on a Bombardier CRJ-700 regional jet --beginning June 9.
+ San Diego: 2 daily round-trip flights -- one on a Boeing 737 and one on a Bombardier CRJ-700 regional jet --beginning June 10.
+ San Jose: 1 daily round-trip flight on Boeing 737 aircraft, beginning June 12.
Delta adds Seattle routes; 'Frenemies' with Alaska Air?
Delta will add more than 25 new nonstop flights out of Seattle this spring and summer and five new West Coast destinations — San Francisco, San Diego, Vancouver, B.C., Fairbanks and Portland — as well as expand service to Las Vegas, Los Angeles and Anchorage. It’s also starting new nonstops to Hong Kong, Seoul and London (while dropping service to Osaka)
The 'frenemy' strikes back: Alaska Air takes on Delta
Alaska Airlines' schedule for its new Salt Lake City routes will be as follows:
+ Los Angeles: 1 daily round-trip flight on Boeing 737 aircraft, beginning June 11
+ Portland: 2 daily round-trip flights -- one on a Boeing 737 and one on a Bombardier CRJ-700 regional jet --beginning June 9.
+ San Diego: 2 daily round-trip flights -- one on a Boeing 737 and one on a Bombardier CRJ-700 regional jet --beginning June 10.
+ San Jose: 1 daily round-trip flight on Boeing 737 aircraft, beginning June 12.
Delta adds Seattle routes; 'Frenemies' with Alaska Air?
Delta will add more than 25 new nonstop flights out of Seattle this spring and summer and five new West Coast destinations — San Francisco, San Diego, Vancouver, B.C., Fairbanks and Portland — as well as expand service to Las Vegas, Los Angeles and Anchorage. It’s also starting new nonstops to Hong Kong, Seoul and London (while dropping service to Osaka)
Me thinks this is all posturing and eventually Alaska and Delta will merge.
TEN
12-08-2013, 10:46 AM
#30
Gets Weekends Off
Joined APC: Jun 2007
Position: CA
Posts: 1,207
Originally Posted by Timbo
Or Southwesternernershoelucansuckmyballs?
I have a hard time with words...
A little harsh perhaps, but definitely a way with words.
Maybe it was the emoticon that riled you up? I should be more careful.
