eaglefly

....as a third option; DAL has a new TA with their pilots and is alluding to an aircraft order and UAL management now appears ready to match DAL's contract. One wonders if these two could combine as a bidder for AA ?

DAL would love MIA and DFW and the SA ops and UAL would be delighted with ORD, LAX and especially more NYC presence and they could make an even split of the International goodies.

If together they came to AA unions and offered them the same contract and no furlough protection and top dollar for the remainder of the creditors (UAL an airbus order/DAL a Boeing order), one wonders how that would be rebuffed ?

It could be a win for all parties. It would also leave U with no future merger partner and a destiny to survive as is, especially with it's pilot seniority conundrum and would be much weaker going forward. U could never catch the "big two" and would probably have to somehow reinvent itself or ultimately be broken up.

lolwut

Seems to me like there'd be too much overlap and anti-trust issues. The resultant airlines would be too big and the deal would either get rejected or approved with them giving away a huge amount of stuff to other airlines. I don't see it happening.

Additionally, UA seems to have their plate full with the merger they have now.

I'd think APA would still favor the US merger. They've also offered a Delta-like contract to AA pilots. But with a US merger, APA will be the majority and in the driver's seat. They will determine their own destiny and be the surviving entity. Wouldn't be the case with DL or UA.

eaglefly

Both carriers seem to be scrambling to get contracts with their pilots. One wonders why now ?

Do they need the stability that would provide for additional capital to make strategic moves, like a merger/acquisition ?

DAL is especially antsy and now UAL management seems desirous of getting a deal done. Of course, they could be for AA "blocking" moves like DAL acquiring Alaska and UAL going after Jet Blue. That would hurt AA and leave the stand alone scheme putting heavy dependence on code-sharing currently being trumpted by AMR badly neutered. All my hypothetical considerations above divvy up AA in a way that gives each carrier additional hubs and markets that they don't really have, but would become individually dominant, so perhaps some relief would be required. Considering the strategic benefits, it might be worth it to them.

AA currently owns much of DFW and what's the difference if it's just another name there. Same with AA's current MIA colassus....but if necessary, that could be split as well. If they offered some of that for SWA with their new 738's, it might get greased. UAL seems to lag behind DAL in NYC and would just be playing catch-up. ORD would then become a UAL stronghold just like AA has in DFW/MIA or DAL has in ATL, so that's already in place elsewhere. The west could easily be a slice and dice. I think it's more of a possibility than some realize and if done correctly, is doable.

Well, U's contract is not anywhere near DAL's pay rates and the scope is better. In fact, every area of DAL's TA is significantly superior to U's contract offer. As far as those pesky AA guys being in the driver's seat, McCaskill-Bond and arbitration will decide seniority regardless of whether they are the survivng entity or not. The primary downside for consideration of this third possibility is AA pilots going back under the thumb of hideous ALPA.

B757200ER

What if US gets broken up, and the pieces go to AA/DL/UA? Then, Bond/McCaskill wouldn't apply...since less than 50% of the carrier would be acquired. Then, APA can just staple, furlough and discard like last time. That would make AA pilots happy, wouldn't it (at US pilots' expense)?

eaglefly

I should have known it would only be a matter of time before a hopelessly disgruntled former TWA pilot would hijack the thread to once again use as a soapbox for his grievances against the world and throw in a dash of flamebait as well.

aa73

I set my watch, sync my iPhone, and schedule Dr appointments through B757200ERs posts. He's that consistent.

What

AMR has to merge, it's what the unsecured creditors want and what the secured creditors are looking into as we speak. Wall Street wants it but AMR management has exclusive rights and they see US Airways as the ugly girl. They will look elsewhere first maybe a threesome with the lean likes of JetBlue & Alaska if that don't work well might as well take care of the blue balls with the ugly girl!

I know one thing is certain, we don't know what they will do because frankly they have an idea of what they want but pieces are moving at a fast rate in the industry and AMR will not have the advantage it's seeking. Delta and United are big, strong and seem to be agile.

eaglefly

Well, I think they think they can get most of what they want with code-sharing as far as Jet Blue and Alaska are concerned. But considering AA is likely to still be embroiled in an ever intensifying war with their pilots for the forseeable future and wasting all their energy internally, it wouldn't surprise me at all if one or both of those more attractive belles are swept up by a more attractive suitor like UAL and DAL in the interim before AA can exit BK and actually make any moves and try to mold a future. That would be very bad for AA and One World. Both DAL and UAL apparently recognize they'll need their pilots support in the future and appear to be making strategic moves for the benefit of all to gain flexibility and strength going forward which is a stark contrast to AA which looks as though management is hell bent on ensuring another 10 years of internal conflict like the last 10 with whatever future materializes at pilots expense.

Now that we have the luxury of retrospect in looking at the last 10 years, who has made the right strategic moves for the future and who hasn't ?

Agreed. That is why the "No Confidence" petition was so strong. Another decade of repeating the last decade is certain faliure in the minds of AA pilots and time is now out as the competition is moving and shaking in the right directions. AMR has one chance to make the right move and little time to do it. From the pilots perspective, destroying us isn't the right move right now.

Mink

Amen. Nearly every other airline is moving its chess pieces around the board to best position themselves for not only the next move, but for several moves into the future.

AMR is playing checkers. With itself.

Sad.

Rudder1

Get back in the box EAGLEFLY!