It's official: Virgin America to merge with Alaska Airlines

[Seggy]

The most important item though is it will be a single operating certificate. One list, one contract, no whip saw.

http://flyingbettertogether.com/

 

[ChasenSFO]

Reportedly a $4 billion buy-out. I hate to see SFO lose its local airline, but maybe the combined product will be even better than what Virgin America offers now. It will be very interesting to see how Horizon and the other regionals under Alaska go head to head with United Express out of SFO. Perhaps it'll be like the 60-90s where multiple carriers went head to head on routes like SFO-STS/MRY/MOD/FAT ect.

http://flyingbettertogether.com/

 

[jskibo]

That feeling when you way overbid on eBay and win.

Yeah but free shipping bro....


......you guys take paypal, right?

 

[Kingairer]

Official now. Alaska and Virgin.

 

[fholbert]

Another article here:

Alaska Air Strikes Deal to Buy Virgin America for $2.6 Billion: Agreement follows a frenzied bidding fight with JetBlue

Big difference in the reported price.

 

[mshunter]

This just doesn't make sense. At all.

 

[WestIndian425]

Alaska is spending a LOT of money for this! Wow!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[skyw82]

I think JetBlue would have made more sense.

 

[Murdoughnut]

This just doesn't make sense. At all.

Left Coast dominance. It's the same strategy Southwest took in acquiring AirTran - won Florida and the associated mid-Atlantic and Midwest routes.

 

[Nark]

@mshunter Sure it does. According to the article it gives them a revenue boost.

Alaska said it expects the deal, which is expected to close by Jan. 1, 2017, to boost its annual revenue by 27% and to add to its earnings in the first year.

 

[superduck]

hmmm.. I wonder if they will keep the airbus fleet or getting rid of it.

 

[Kingairer]

JetBlue pilot group dodged a bullet. They can grow organically now.

 

[hook_dupin]

JetBlue and Alaska will merge anyway inside of 10 years.

 

[skypilot6]

Kinda Sad, Never flew on VA, I kinda want to book a flight to experience the product before its gone.

 

[Murdoughnut]

At least maybe their pilots will wear ties now. When I see a VA pilot I just want to hand them my bags for S&Gs.

 

[Cherokee_Cruiser]

http://flyingbettertogether.com

 

[Screaming_Emu]

At least maybe their pilots will wear ties now. When I see a VA pilot I just want to hand them my bags for S&Gs.

I don't think adding a hat or tie really helps with the bell hop perception.

 

[Cherokee_Cruiser]

JetBlue pilot group dodged a bullet. They can grow organically now.

Time will tell. If this merger is approved, JetBlue is surpassed and the new Alaska is #5 in the nation.


DL, AA, UA, SW all have already had mergers and control 80% of traffic. Safe to assume no more DOT / DOJ approval for any more mergers here?

That leaves 7 main major airlines:

Alaska, Hawaii, JetBlue, Virgin, Spirit, Frontier, Allegiant.

Alaska/Virgin
Spirit/Frontier - probably next

That leaves JetBlue either by itself or forced with Hawaiian.

 

[Cherokee_Cruiser]

The most important item though is it will be a single operating certificate. One list, one contract, no whip saw.

http://flyingbettertogether.com/

Good news re: SOC

 

[mshunter]

@mshunter Sure it does. According to the article it gives them a revenue boost.

What are they going to do with all them Buses though? If they do the same thing SW did, they'll have to f-word a bunch of guys until they get more Boeing's on property, or keep operating the -320's.

From a single type airline, unless that changes, this just doesn't make sense. I was also really pulling for jetBlue. I want them to be the next big airline in the US. I know enough people over there that if they are all as good as them, they really deserve to be the next big player. IMO, their people offer a superior product than all three of the top players currently in the US. Their only limiting factor right now is simply their size/foot print. And this would have been a huge boost for that.