that's all great rhetoric but there is a contract which requires performance by both sides and DL is not about to allow AS out of the contract unless DL gets what it wants.
Further, as the largest codeshare for AS, the loss of DL's revenues will impact more than any other airline and DL remains the greatest revenue growth opportunity that AS has - yet AS isn't smart enough to realize that so DL has had no choice to set up their own SEA operation.
SEA is moving forward with a terminal expansion plan that will be driven largely for DL's benefit and will provide the space DL needs. SEA also knows that DL will not sign on to the project unless it gets gates now. The notion taht DL needs SEA is a grasping-straw routine for those who are incapable of realizing that DL has strategized its west coast growth options enough ways to realize DL will win regardless. DL's own internal growth will impact other carriers and that may include AS but will certainly include higher cost carriers and those who have a presence in the west coast-Asia market. If AS wins or loses is immaterial to DL.
We can revisit this topic 2, 3, and 5 years from now but i can absolutely assure you that DL's strategic goals will be moving forward while other carriers will fare far worse, whether Ms. PlaneBusiness and E can see it or not.
your statement is true, Meto. And it is also very possible that DL's own internal growth will render AS far less valuable than they are now and than alot of people think they are.
AS does as well as they do because they have had free reign to expand in many key markets, esp. in the pulldown by AA, DL, and US in the past.