There really isn't any airline that AA, UA or DAL want or need in the US. No airline in the US would offer them anything they need. We saw this with DL in SEA, they could have bought AS but decided it would just be easier to move in and build their own hub. Same thing with UA and Frontier or AA and Spirit.

The fact is the big three have all they want and need in the continental US. There isn't anything any airline offer they couldn't just buy or build on their own.

Nope, nothing at all. Unless you count gate space, reduced completion (and thus increased fares), and narrow-body airplanes from this century. Other than those worthless things, they offer nothing.

LOL...exactly

How do mergers help the shareholders? Is it all about reducing competition and sharing assets or is there more to it?

There will be no issue with any airline getting narrow body or widebody aircraft for the next 5 years. You can get anything you want in the time it takes to paint a aircraft. The airlines that might be at a disadvantage are those with large order books at pre covid pricing. Airbus already announced they are going to play hardball and hold airlines to the contracts. It’s a great time to be shopping now and picking up new or used airframes at big discounts.

I wonder how true this quote will be if demand continues to surge back to previous levels…

It sounded like a lot of airlines will be ditching 50 seaters again.

There are two kinds of majors strategies with 50 seaters. Those that have announced big reductions (replaced with 76 seat lift), and those who have yet to announce big reductions.

Yes, I realize some do not fly an 50 seaters.

Where will the axe land? Reductions, transformations, mergers, closures of regionals currently flying them.

Stay away from the 50 seaters. They are a dyeing breed. Too Slow, Too Low. To heavy to little range. Burnes too much fuel.

Not to mention both airplane manufacturers quit making them awhile back. Tells you something about their future. No demand by RJs to buy new ones.