american 767 From United States of America, joined May 1999, 3321 posts, RR: 14 Posted (3 months 4 days 9 hours ago) and read 1825 times:
Now that the famous AA/US merger has come to a final agreement as discussed intensively in zillions of other posts, there will soon be 5 big airlines in the US:
-American
-Delta
-JetBlue
-Southwest
-United
And the small ones:
-Alaska
-Frontier
-Spirit
-Virgin America
-Hawaiian
Here is a recap of the big mergers this century:
2001: AA + TW = AA
2005: US + HP = US
2008: DL + NW = DL
2010: UA + CO = UA
2011: WN + Air Tran = WN
2013: AA + US = AA
What does everyone think the next one will be?
I would guess: Delta takes over Alaska.
Ben Soriano
"Aimer jusqu'a l'impossible, c'est possible". Tina Arena.
AeroWesty From United States of America, joined Oct 2004, 18853 posts, RR: 64 Reply 6, posted (3 months 4 days 8 hours ago) and read 1515 times:
I believe the only logical pair out of the list is jetBlue + Virgin America, dumping VX's First Class.
Hawaiian has no need to merge with anyone else. Alaska will continue to be opportunistic in terms of routes, hubs, and codeshares. Spirit may continue as our only ULCC, and what happens to Frontier is anyone's guess.
iFlyLOTs From United States of America, joined Apr 2012, 380 posts, RR: 0 Reply 7, posted (3 months 4 days 8 hours ago) and read 1495 times:
Quoting TWA772LR (Reply 4): What would be the next "big one" on that front?
Eagle and PSA?
My guess is that the mergers are done for a while now. We might see someone go under though and have their assets bought, who would that be? I have no idea. I do think that unless a turnaround of incredible proportions happens that VX will probably fail, they cater to a market that just isn't there. There would be some easy gate space to fill at LAX and SFO if that were to happen.
But honestly, I think there won't be any mergers for a long time.
JetBlue doesn't belong with UA, DL, WN and AA/US. There are 4 big airlines (AA, UA, DL & WN) and then the rest. WN is the next biggest from B6 and they are 5x larger then B6, B6 is in the pack with AS, F9 etc...
Why would AS want to merge with DL? They're much better off remaining independent and having the flexibility to work with all airlines, especially considering that many AS markets have little competition.
ItalianFlyer From United States of America, joined Nov 2007, 948 posts, RR: 2 Reply 10, posted (3 months 4 days 7 hours ago) and read 1150 times:
My WAG would be HA/AS...and that is iffy. I agree with Gemuser that anything involving UA/AA/DL will have a hard time passing the Feds (barring another 2008 meltdown or, God forbid, massive terrorist attack). The next round of consolidaiton is definately the regional tier. With only 3 majors, there is no need for 5 large holding companies plus a handful of indies.
mikeology From United States of America, joined Mar 2012, 103 posts, RR: 0 Reply 11, posted (3 months 4 days 6 hours ago) and read 1122 times:
Quoting AeroWesty (Reply 6): I believe the only logical pair out of the list is jetBlue + Virgin America, dumping VX's First Class.
My first thoughts were exactly the same. Considering VX may be out in a few years B6 would pick up aircraft it already utilizes. Not to mention similar routes. Not sure about seeing SFO or LAX as a B6 hub
cessna53996 From United States of America, joined Feb 2013, 16 posts, RR: 0 Reply 12, posted (3 months 2 days 21 hours ago) and read 954 times:
B6 taking over VX would be a great move for B6, they really need a much larger west coast presence, and this would definitely give them one. SFO would be a good fit for B6, but I'm skeptical about LAX simply because of the intense competition. B6 would gain 30 A320neos, 53 A320s, and 10 A319s (maybe they could give those to AAY). They could probably double or triple their west coast ops by doing this. Though Barger said they wanted independent, organic growth, which may throw a monkey wrench into this.
EagleBoy From Niue, joined Dec 2009, 1619 posts, RR: 2 Reply 13, posted (3 months 2 days 20 hours ago) and read 921 times:
Quoting airliner371 (Reply 8): JetBlue doesn't belong with UA, DL, WN and AA/US. There are 4 big airlines (AA, UA, DL & WN) and then the rest.
I agree with this clarification. I can't see any more merger in the short term. DL and UA are still working through their merger process, the AA/US process is only starting. WN is discovering that the takeover wasn't as smooth as they first thought.
So unless VX go under and get bought up by B6 or 1 of the big three I would say no mergers for 3-5 years.
BoeingGuy From United States of America, joined Dec 2010, 2309 posts, RR: 7 Reply 14, posted (3 months 2 days 19 hours ago) and read 901 times:
Quoting Viscount724 (Reply 9): Quoting american 767 (Thread starter):
I would guess: Delta takes over Alaska.
Why would AS want to merge with DL? They're much better off remaining independent and having the flexibility to work with all airlines, especially considering that many AS markets have little competition.
Yeah, I still have never seen the memo that states that it just has to be a foregone conclusion that AS has to merge with someone because of changing times, or whatever.........
Someone explain to me what law makes it mandatory or foregone that AS cannot remain independent indefinitely.
mia305 From United States of America, joined Mar 2013, 237 posts, RR: 0 Reply 17, posted (2 months 2 weeks 3 days 20 hours ago) and read 518 times:
As stated above, there won't be any mergers for while.
But, I would like see B6 and VX merge, the fleets are the
same and B6 needs a bigger presence on the west coast.
TWA772LR From United States of America, joined Nov 2011, 756 posts, RR: 1 Reply 18, posted (2 months 2 weeks 3 days 10 hours ago) and read 466 times:
Quoting n729pa (Reply 16): Hawaiian, with their routes they must be an interest to someone, say AA for example.
HA's network would be a great fit into the new AA's network and fill a massive AA hole. But I don't see anything going on with HA merger-wise for the next 10 years.
There's nothing like the smell of Jet-A in the morning. It smells like... VICTORY!!!
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