Really General?
Delta codeshares with 12 other airlines, and outsources domestic flying with over 800 regional jets. Do you really think you have the credibility to throw that stone?
Codesharing with Volaris on less than 2% of our ASM (MAX) is nothing compared to what Delta has done. Plus ZERO RJ's, and ZERO long range international codeshare. When we go long range, it will be with our pilots.
RF
You got it, we are a Global Airline, and there are Global partnerships, just like your little deal with Volaris. We are NOT allowed to fly intra China, or Intra Australia, but we have partners that do it, and then feed our planes flying back to the USA. If you don't have the rights to fly within a seperate country, you need to rely on partnerships to gain access to those cities you cannot serve. It's just that basic. Virgin Blue (now Virgin Australia) will feed our 777 that goes nonstop to LAX from SYD. China Southern Airlines flies from all over China to Guangzhou, and then their 777 to LAX, and then we take passengers onward throughout the US. The Joint Venture to Europe with AF, KLM, and Alitalia does the same, but shares profits, and also coordinates schedules. Any cut backs (like announced today for the Fall) has to be done by each member, not just one. That helps with profits. When you can't fly WITHIN another country, it is good to be friends with someone so they can bring their own passengers to a collection point, and then we fly them to the US. I can't explain it any easier for you.
And,
today you still have RJs. Maybe not soon with the SkyWest deal ending, but today you do. Not zero,
some. I love how you say zero "long range" codeshares. But ONE SHORT RANGE codeshare........funny. But WHEN YOU GO LONG RANGE (and every other LCC in Europe does the same to bat you back to the USA), it will be with YOUR PILOTS. (mainly Airtran pilots who can understand how to do it). I can't wait to see that. Maybe you can then rename your airline People's Express.
And DL doesn't have 800 RJs flying for it right now. Comair will be down to 44 planes soon, Expressjet doesn't fly for DL anymore, Freedom Air (MESA) doesn't, and ASA moved a bunch from DL to United. SWA used to have 727s, but I don't bring that up to you everytime you want to argue. Get the correct number and then use it, but 800 is high.
Bye Bye---General Lee