Next Merger?
 

So it appears that US will get AA. (BA will get a piece too)

Give your best guess on the next merger and why.

The Bigs
UA/CAL (Completeing merger. Probably won't do another for a while)
Delta
AA (AA/US) (Current merger. Probably won't do another for a long while)
Southwest


Left to acquire?
Jet Blue (Making $ and big in the east)
Virgin America (International system & growing, but small)
Alaska (Rock solid presence in the NW)

Spirit (New Vegas and Phoenix/Mesa base)
Allegiant (A lot of old Md80's, but AB's on order I hear)
Hawaiian (Just signed JB codeshare)
Frontier (Republic yard sale. I fear the worst but hope the best for those guys)

Hmmm, I guess...

VA & JB merge. JB gets Virgin name and international system, Virgin Atlantic and Virgin Australia gets significantly increased US market feed than just Virgin America. Needs to keep up with BA/AA/US deal.

DL will go after AK. Just fits and DL needs to keep up with AA & UA size.


Your guess?

anybody? i would of thought someone would have chimed in on this.

one word... (albeit hyphenated).

anti-trust.

What international system does Virgin have that jetBlue doesnt have already? From what I thought, Virgin only flies to 3 or 4 spots in Mexico.

I have no speculation but I do not see Virgin and JB happening. I also wouldnt see JB taking the Virgin name as JB is a more household name in the US.

I agree. Althought the company cultures / equipment would be an easy fit. JB is more of a household name at least then Virgin America. Maybe a Alaska, Hawaiian and JB three way complementing routes and very little overlap.

We all forgot republic. They will pay Virgin and jetBlue.

Republic is desperately trying to go back to a regional only model. The YX/F9 project has exploded in BB's face. It's been a miserable failure. I seriously doubt RAH will be trying to aquire anyone.

No need, repub will start flying CPA stuff for emirates at 5-8 PTS above cost. Serving the iad/Iah/NYC/ord/lax runs. The frontier guys will fly the 319/20s for them and the law darts will feed the buses. Enjoy that pilot shortage charade.

Speaking of which, what's the latest on Frontier being possibly purchased?

The future of Frontier is a major question mark. Republic wants to get rid of F9, but no one seems too interested. Its really too bad because F9 is a great airline.

I would like to see Virigin, Jet Blue and Frontier merge

Why do you hate F9 pilots?

Moby, I do not hate F9 pilots! In fact, I love F9, and I always wanted to work there. My best friend is a pilot there.

I think that a merger between Virigin, Frontier and JetBlue would make them a stronger airline for the future. I believe they would be stronger together than apart. I think that they have fleet commonality, a very different route structures that would work well if integrated.

Together the three of them could really put some real competition against Southwest.

The problems F9 pilots would end up in a non-union environment where management could have their way with them. F9 folks need to AVOID any association with the likes of B6 and Virgin.

Frankly, I would rather see F9 get acquired by Alaska. It would be good for the airline and good for F9 employees.

I see Frontier going to Allegiant or Spirit. And when the time is right Southwest and jetBlue will merge.

Frontier's CBA will not become null and void if they merged with a non union carrier.

I take it you have bulletproof successorship language. Better check up on that. Don't forget what happens AFTER the representation election. What then?

I don't foresee JetBlue and Southwest merging. The fleets are totally different, however Southwest did acquire AirTran and then dump the aircraft, so who knows. I think JetBlue and Virgin merging is more likely as their fleets would go well together. As for the earlier post saying that JetBlue would take the Virgin name... possible but not likely with Delta having major ownership of Virgin Atlantic. A larger domestic competitor with the Virgin name would likely not go over too well with Delta management. Hell, Delta could always just buy Virgin America...

I'd like to see Alaska, Southwest, and Hawaiian merge and we could call the new company PanAm ;)

Someone hit on this earlier, but will the DOJ let the big three (big four if you include SWA) acquire anyone else? Antitrust implications are already on lawmakers minds regarding the airlines. Linkups between National/LCCs may be the only mergers that could get approved. I'm guessing one of the bigs will attempt another acquisition before too long and I will have my answer.

ABX and ATI are next.. ;-)

AS buys F9. F9 pilots get seat protection (no bump, no flush) and DoH ratio. Mark it down, boys. You heard it hear first.

I think Delta will purchase JB to prevent American from getting JB. As for JB and Virgin not likely JB will just keep hiring Virgin pilots. As I have heard the total is four since Nov 2012. JB is far more of a house hold name then Virgin America anyway. JMHO

I am intimately familiar with the F9/YX acquisition having been a pilot for one of them at the time. Brian wanted to compete and expand with the "big guys" and ended up getting outfoxed by the likes of Gary Kelly in a bidding war. He would have been better off sticking with YX and growing MKE. That city is now under-served once again and the whole fiasco was a tragic waste!

Virgin/jetblue.... Spirit/frontier?!?

What would JetBlue get out of the deal?

The whole 121 Supplimential field is shrinking fast. The question will be who survives and who gets merged.

Evergreen is still sinking fast. Chance of survival is easily less than 50%.

That high? My guess 10%.

Thought I would bring this thread to the top to see if there are any new ideas.

I still think Frontier and Spirit will wind up merged, but not for a few years yet. Frontier has to finish aligning their business model and fleet to their new ULCC plan.

Spirit and Frontier in a couple of years. Then one of the legacy "Major Airlines" will buy the merged company. Young work force with new Airbus jets is a good fit with any legacy currently flying.

DL/AS for a larger seatac and international hub

I'll be the dark horse and guess SWA and Spirit to gain a foothold in the Caribbean and Latin America as well as a turnkey international operation in FLL. I also think they'll keep the busses.

That is always a possibility.

Me personally I think that JetBlue will by spirit airlines. I know that it does not seem possible since one has a great customer fan base and the other does not

Two completely different airlines. Not a chance. Now, JB and AK make so much more sense.

Don't think so. One has Airbus's the other B737's. Both have a large fleet so that isn't going to work. Southwest and Alaska maybe.

I vote for Spirit and Hawaiian since both have Airbus's and the route structure doesn't have many flights that overlap.

Kalitta Charters/AirNet

Didn't AirNet cease operations recently?

No, Not yet

Some buzz still going on about a Spirit Frontier merger.