Unsubstantiated rumor--merger talks in Dallas

[JetMonkey]

I don't follow people rationing about PHX future if there's a merger. Remember it's all about market share. And US has the most out of PHX. Sure it doesn't generate the kind of revenue DFW or PHL does, but DAL has a hub in LAX, yet they still plan on maintaing SLC. Why should it be any different with US? PHX would have the least amount of disruptions due to weather than any other hub, and that would help feed off of LAX. It's the 8th largest airport (14th in the world) and has better O&D than CLT. So don't count it out.

 

[aafsc]

This has been the second meetiing in 'Dallas' between US and *. In January, some union reps were summoned to 'Dallas' to meet with company officials.
[*AAn unknown entity thAAt mAAy or mAAy not have its primAAry plAAce of business in the DAAllAAs-Fort Worth AAreAA.]

There is nothing to be gAAined by a certAAin AAirline bAAsed neAAr DAAllAAs in regAArds to merging with AAn AAirline bAAsed in Tempe, AAZ whose route system is second rAAte AAT best. AA isn't interested in flying people from ORF to JAX or RIC to TPA. They AAre using eAAgle RJs to fly people from the SE cities directly to their very successful MiAAmi hub, no CLT or PHL required. In fAAct, PHL, CLT, AAnd PHX beAAr AAn eAArily resembelence to STL. You get on here AAnd post AAbout how these three cities would be so vAAluAAble to AA. You remind me of the TWAAers who go on AAnd on AAbout how hugely profitAAble STL wAAs AANd AAll the vAAlue it brought to AA. It obviously wAAsn't very vAAluAAble becAAuse AA dehubbed it while TW never mAAde AAny money during its lAAst ten yeAArs. But the TWAAers insist it wAAs profitAAble. I guess AA is in the hAAbit of wAAlking AAwAAy from goldmines. FAAce it, your route system is substAAndAArd AAnd unAApeAAling; mediocre AAcross the AAtlAAntic, the CAAribeAAn, AAnd CentrAAl AAmericAA, nothing to AAsiAA, AAnd one new flight to South AAmericAA with terrible loAAds. You don't even hAAve AAnything in the centrAAl United StAAtes.

AA would not be interested in your AAirbus fleet or the ones on order (speculAAtion of bAAD blood between AA and AAirbus) nor would AA wAAnt to tAAke over fAAcilites such as hAAngAArs, res centers, buildings, etc.

STOP DREAAMING OF AAn AA MERGER!!

END YOUR FAANTAASIES OF CAAREER AADVAANCEMENT BY PREYING UPON THE EMPLOYEES OF AANOTHER AAIRLINE!!

QUIT LUSTING AAFTER OUR SUPERIOR ROUTE SYSTEM AAND LAARGE WIDEBODY FLEET!!

 

[JAMAKE1]

I am still hedging my bets that any discussions going on between AA and US in Dallas/Ft. Worth regarding a possible transaction has everything to do with DCA and LGA. With the DL-US deal dead in the water, my sense is that AA is going on the offensive to better position itself for market dominance in NY...at the expense of DL.

With that said, a likely scenario could be a slot-swap agreement between AA and US where US cedes its LGA slots for AA's slots at DCA. Furthermore, the scenario could include acquisition of US Shuttle routes by AA while also calling for US to join Oneworld. In this way, AA could achieve a dominant position in both NY and DC markets (through OW partner US at DCA), while at the same time, pacifying DOJ officials' concerns about competition since Star Alliance's market position in DC would become greatly diluted.

With AA's higher labor cost structure and open contracts with all of its unions, I just cannot foresee AA being the least bit interested in acquiring US, other than cherry picking certain assets to solidify their market position in NY.

Those are my thoughts...

 

[Toothy Grin]

The Miami Hub! The Miami Hub!

That's all I hear is the The MIAMI HUB!

The Miami hub this...the Miami Hub that. Doesn't the Miami hub look cute in that sweater?? And isn't the MIAMI HUB just the dahhhlink!

Wait. Where did it go?

Science fact and think tanks all know that human populations will have to move away from the coast lines. Writing off CLT or PHX means you are not looking far enough into the NEAR future even though your compAAny probably is already doing so....

Massive shelves of ice separate and fall into the ocean, somehow this means nothing for Miami...S. FL? The Carib isles are sinking and somehow Jetblue seems like a good choice? Really?

oooooooohhhhh K.

 

[DCaf]

Here's a rhetorical question: Do you think US Aviation, when things get slow, throws in a thread about a rumor that is sure to generate discussion? Especially between (in their own mind) high class AA, and (in everyone else's mind), trailer trash US?

I work for US, I don't think of US as trashy, and I don't lust to work for AA, or anyone else.
This thread is all about getting the AAers on their high horse to the US board to condescend, as they do so well.

 

[AirbusA310]

Only reason I would want a merger is so US can get a res system that actually works...QIK needs to go!!! So hard to try to rebook someone and you try to find availability and all QIK can tell you is no flights found...market not served....this might have been a great system for HP but doesn't work when you have an airline that has international flights and you have customers that connect to other airlines past your own network.

 

[Kev3188]

... but DAL has a hub in LAX, yet they still plan on maintaing SLC.

I'm not sure I'd consider the DL operation at LAX anything close to a "hub."

Here's a rhetorical question: Do you think US Aviation, when things get slow, throws in a thread about a rumor that is sure to generate discussion?

I don't; I think we all do a good job of generating these types of threads on our own.

 

[Kneecaps]

AA hAAs a pAAcket of money AAvailable to them thAAt wAAsn't used to purchAAse JAL.
AAs I hAAve posted before, I speculAAte thAAt LCC is positioning to merge/be aquired by AA.
AA is strong in BOS, LCC is pulling out.
AA is strong in NY, LCC is pulling out.
AA is weak in DC, LCC is strong and trying to get bigger there with the slot swaps.
AA has been searching for a SE hub to compete with DL, and CLT looks like a good fit, being a fortress hub for LCC and all.
And then there is the shuttle, which AA has expressed interest in previously.
What does not fit is PHX, since AA has a large presence in LAX.
So, what does AA get out of the deal? Northeast saturation, Southeast saturation, the Shuttle, and the nation's capital.
Can someone explain the often referenced AA 'exclusivity' agreement with Boeing?
Cheers

Nice summary. LCCs west coast presence would be beneficial for the combined company as well because it would result in less competition on the west coast. I don't think you would see them keep both PHX and LAX hubs for very long though, so likely a lot of upset employees on that side of the equation.

Overall its a decent acquisition for AA, but I can't imagine the pilot seniority issues that would ensue.

 

[mrman]

IF there is any traveling to Dallas, my bet is you got it wrong on which side of Dallas. My bet is US needs to sell some LGA and DCA slots for BOTH the slot swap agreement and some needed cash. There is only one airline in Dallas that has free cash and the want to expand greatly in the Northeast and it ain't AA.

 

[ChockJockey]

lol, amiright or amiright?
​

I don't follow people rationing about PHX future if there's a merger. Remember it's all about market share. And US has the most out of PHX. Sure it doesn't generate the kind of revenue DFW or PHL does, but DAL has a hub in LAX, yet they still plan on maintaing SLC. Why should it be any different with US? PHX would have the least amount of disruptions due to weather than any other hub, and that would help feed off of LAX. It's the 8th largest airport (14th in the world) and has better O&D than CLT. So don't count it out.

Bless you, sir. It's true that when SFO's fogged in and DEN's under three feet of snow PHX looks pretty good.

AA isn't interested in flying people from ORF to JAX or RIC to TPA.

Why not? These people have access to revenue statistics and masses of data and the calculative talent to generate any number of models that illustrate how the resources and routes of two carriers can be realigned for maximum efficiency and even profitability. Information is power; everything else is educated speculation at best or just piecemeal bias and anecdotal recollections tainted with opinion and the ubiquitous taste of bitterness of resentment (i.e., threads like this).

The last two years have seen a lot of established doctrines and paradigms thrown out the windows of airlines the world over. They're trying every trick in the book and writing some new ones just to keep in business, so I think it's quite possible that in those carefree days before the Fuel Crisis and Great Recession AA would have scoffed and chortled at the idea of flying people from ORF to JAX, but these days I'd imagine they're taking a far more sober look at ALL their options, regardless of how far-fetched they'd have been seen by the old way of thinking.

That being said, I'd consider a couple of the theories presented before to be more feasible or likely than an out-and-out merger, specifically some sort of IT systems collaboration or a US realignment with OneWorld. There are dozens and dozens of possibilities.

The Miami hub this...the Miami Hub that. Doesn't the Miami hub look cute in that sweater?? And isn't the MIAMI HUB just the dahhhlink!

Ha ha! Oh you!

US being an unholy amalgamation of regional airlines posing as a legacy and there being four larger airlines seemingly unimpressed by US we may be better off drafting from the minors. Personally I'd like us to swallow up Hawaiian. How's that for Pacific expansion? All them widebodies... Not gonna happen, but still...

 

[Art at ISP]

Only reason I would want a merger is so US can get a res system that actually works...QIK needs to go!!! So hard to try to rebook someone and you try to find availability and all QIK can tell you is no flights found...market not served....this might have been a great system for HP but doesn't work when you have an airline that has international flights and you have customers that connect to other airlines past your own network.

I think this was mentioned before, but perhaps THIS is the reason for the meeting? So they can work on perhaps getting US a workable reservation system? JUST MAYBE they are thinking of going back to SABRE....and maybe that's it--or not :unsure:

 

[Dont call me Shirley]

Only reason I would want a merger is so US can get a res system that actually works...QIK needs to go!!! So hard to try to rebook someone and you try to find availability and all QIK can tell you is no flights found...market not served....this might have been a great system for HP but doesn't work when you have an airline that has international flights and you have customers that connect to other airlines past your own network.

A princess phone, phone book, and and OAG (Do that still come in hardcopy?) would be a an improvement over QIK/SHARES. I wonder if Parker and Kirby have any clue how much the station agents hate that system. Or do they care?

 

[FA Mikey]

Then they may have been visiting the SouthLake headquarters of SABRE holdings. Assuming that this is not just another I heard from someone, that someone met with someone stories. I dont know if AA's IT dept is working on or has a turn key res system to sell.

 

[crusher]

Anything to get rid of this POS Shares. Garbage then ,Garbage now , Garbage forever.

 

[gaucho99]

autofixer posted this link in another thread:

www.thestreet.com/_aol/story/10694597/1/southwest-checks-out-laguardia-and-national.html?

If US management was seen in Dallas, they were possibly meting with WN management over their interest in DCA and LGA slots.