Continental Redeems Golden Share, considers leaving SkyTeam

[Flopgut]

They'll get it as soon as their check clears...

How about we give you one of our old 30 series 9s and we call it even? There's no gas it, sorry.

 

[Marko Ramius]

Something to think about is the Lufthansy investment in JetBlue. I kinda think whoever ends up with UAL will also end up with JetBlue. CAL/UAL/JBLU would be a hard sell to the DOJ with EWR and JFK. UAIR/UAL/JBLU might be easier and the seniority integration wouldn't be as difficult with the new USAPA representation and no representation at JBLU. Everyone was excpecting the DAL/NWA deal, but I kinda think the next one will surprise us.

This could turn out to be a very well played move by UA/LH and the 'DeathStar'. JBLU fits better with UAL than any other airline(NO employee personal feelings aren't considered here!). UA is small in the NY and BOS area outside of it's UsAirways codeshare, and beyond the obvious fleet match, United has proven to be the most committed of the network majors to the airline within an airline branding concept. Shuttle by United continued after the imitators went away and basically morphed itself into TED which still stands long after Song has gone away. JetBlue's inflight product seems like an obvious improvement to the TED product/concept at minimal cost.

However, to make an acquisition/merger ahead of industry consolidation would be shortsighted because of DOJ concerns. Letting LH get their hands in JetBlue's pockets to keep them out of play may turn out to be brilliant and may setup the weakest of the 'big three' in the NYC area to be the biggest. They could let JetBlue stay separate like DAL/NWA is doing with Midex and reap the codeshare revenue, secure in the knowledge that they will get first crack at the assets if they fail for some reason. Question is, does Star get greedy and try to keep UsAirways in as well if UA/CO merge? That would be quite an alliance, especially in the NY/BOS/DC areas if B6 gets included eventually....

 

[RJAA]

LH puts money into JBLU just so it keeps it going, and nothing more. Because if it falls apart, Delta would pick up the JFK slots and facilities for cheap and increase hub presence in JFK and overrun Continental in EWR. That cannot happen. LH is just playing its cards to preserve the future STAR presence in NYC.

 

[MJ42]

How about we give you one of our old 30 series 9s and we call it even? There's no gas it, sorry.

Only if it's not the one that landed gear up at IAH in '96!

http://www.airdisaster.com/photos/co1943/photo.shtml