acl65pilot

Just what I heard (ears). Hence the reason I was asking. It is possible, but not something that was really on the radar so to speak, and then I hear this random story this morning (from the news radio station) as I am working at my desk.

Superdad

now where is that missing stapler, I know its around here somewhere..........


SWEETHEART, what did you do with my stapler!

acl65pilot

Not sure many of them would have an issue with it. Talked to a buddy of mine today that works there. He would be tickled pink to get that offer.

Superdad

I have a bunch of friends that work there as well. If you know the history of the airline I would say your statement is SPOT ON. They would probably fall over themselves for the chance.

I was just kidding about the staple thing, they actually do some decent international flying and there is only 500 of them.

cybourg10

Well then who is getting Alaska? Delta wouldn't be offering deals to Spirit unless they thought they couldn't get what they wanted from Alaska. Adding capacity out west instead of acquiring/merging with Alaska does not seem like option A for Big D.

Pineapple Guy

Yeah, yeah. That's what they ALL say, right up until the time the merger is announced. Then suddenly they want either DOH or relative position, whichever is most beneficial to them.

iaflyer

Well - that's what people thought with Frontier/SWA. You'll get some senior pilots who say, "if I wanted to go to Delta, I would of gone - I want DOH or 1:1 for a merger, etc if you want it to happen."

Personally, I can't see why Delta would be interested in Spirit. True, Spirit has a lot of Latin America routes, but it's all ultra-low cost flying. If Delta bought Spirit, and put a Delta cost structure onto those route, I can't see much profit to be had.

Delta goes to 30 of the 33 destinations that Spirit goes to, so it wouldn't be much in the way of additions to the route map.

The only thing I could see Delta wanting from Spirit are the airplanes. But, Spirit management seems to see the benefit of selling airplanes for a profit, so I don't think the airline would be cheap. (ie, by buying Spirit I don't think Delta would get the airplane for a song.) If I recall, Spirit sold some of the their Airbuses to Tiger Airlines in Asia - presumably for a profit.

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I don't think many of Spirit's routes are exclusive - ie, the are routes that only Spirit can fly. I think if Delta wanted to fly most of the routes, they could just start flying them.

acl65pilot

Just for giggles.

Bunch of 320's etc that could be used out West for the next fight, VA, WN, etc on the west coast. AS is a logical first choice. Buying someone like Spirit would allow us to move jets and bodies overnight. No one really cares about their (Spirit's) routes.

iaflyer

OK, but you don't think that Delta could get A-320s from Airbus quickly, especially if there was an order for A330s made at the same time? Of course, same could be said for 737s.

Hey, question, who is buying all the 737s that Delta had on order that they are selling as soon as Delta gets them?

firstmob

ACL There are so many rumors floating around it gives me a headache-- which ones do you put any credence to?