Emirates and AA

[eolesen]

I've hinted at this before as a possibility...

http://centreforaviation.com/analysis/emirates-continues-courting-american-as-ink-dries-on-qantas-deal-82590

Note that this only discusses a codeshare outside of oneworld, but there's no reason it couldn't also involve equity.

 

[JFK Fleet Service]

What's this? A topic unrelated to the eternal struggle? Blasphemy!

 

[eolesen]

I'd like to keep it that way, too, thanks...

 

[FWAAA]

In a few years, EK will likely be flying nonstop to DXB from the 10-15 (perhaps 20) largest USA gateways with a few of its hundreds of widebodies on order, and no doubt it would like some help feeding those flights, so I see codeshare deals on the horizon with all three big airlines, not just AA.

So EK places its code on hundreds of domestic flights all over the USA and the big three place their codes on the 10-20 nonstops to DXB plus some points beyond. Those bound by the Fly USA restrictions are happy with the codeshares. The frequent flyer junkies earn EQMs by buying the AA/DL/UA codeshares on the EK flights and everyone is happy.

I don't see this leading to any shiny AA planes flying to Dubai, which will disappoint the "AA must simply fly to Dubai" crowd. EK already owns that market and is set to build on that dominance. A single AA flight to DXB from JFK or DFW would be a money-pit.