Here is company's response to the news on Jetnet. Evidently not a big deal. Codesharing to/from each others hubs seem flights most affected.
Changes coming to the American-Alaska codeshare
Yesterday our long-time partner Alaska Airlines announced an agreement with the Dept. of Justice (DOJ) that clears the way for the carrier to close its merger with Virgin America. As part of the agreement, Alaska and American will need to make some reductions to our codeshare routes. This reduced codeshare will primarily impact routes to and from our hubs and those of Alaska and Virgin America, as well as routes where Alaska, Virgin America and American offer overlap service. In all, Alaska will need American to remove its code from less than 20 Alaska routes and Alaska will need to remove its code on about 40 routes flown by American. Customers will not lose access to any destinations, frequent flyer accrual and redemption on Alaska will continue, and employee agreements – like employee interline and ZED travel – will not change. Alaska Airlines remains a valued partner and we expect that relationship to continue for years to come.
BTW, company has specifically designated DCA/IAD as the only co-terminal in the system--i.e., both airports are considered to be one when assigning flights to pilots and flight attendants. So, Love Field may not be affected in any way. If VA is doing well there with the 2 gates, Alaska may not see any reason to move those flights to DFW, and AA might be able to codeshare on those flights.
