Apologies. It was not my intention to flame up a thread with focusing on: "our pilots are better than your pilots" issue.
My intention is to point out revenue, and experience...all while making profit.
For instance, flying cargo in the state of Alaska is unique, as everything has to be flown into most of the interior Alaska. Alaska Airlines knows how to do this profitably, and knows how to do this year-round.
As far as challenging flying, anyone is capable of learning it. However, there are increased training expenses related to flying in Southeast Alaska, and interior Alaska. There are special qualifications, and IOE is longer, because one trip has to be through SE, and another trip in the Arctic. Again, Alaska can manage that profitably.
That's really all I was saying way back on page one. Both carriers have a unique niche market, and has figured out how to operate profitably in their own back yards.
With all that said, airline executives' greed easily overcome any real or "spin machine" synergies.
of that airline all over them. Merging with Airtran management would be like marrying the company bike or a Tijuana hooker.
