OK, SO who's next...

[Dan Roman]

Besides, people still fly with whomever has the cheapest ticket.
I was bored today and called many family and friends on the West coast and asked about trips to Hawaii and specifically asked about airlines. In every case, they said they flew the airline that had the cheapest ticket, many cases in F.
It appears that vacations start upon arrival.

Not sure what yield management has to do with the discussion? Hawaiian does in fact enjoy a strong marketing advantage, but no question about it, fare wars lower everyone's yield. The last comment is wrong. Hawaiian carries a lot of passengers because they are "Hawaiian", but they do have to remain competitive pricing wise. That said, I saw the figures published somewhere, the average yield per ticket was higher on Hawaiian than any other carrier to Hawaii, not by much, but they do get a premium.

 

[Dan Roman]

And the state of Hawaii is going to get a say because??? Last time I checked, this was interstate commerce, which is the exclusive jurisdiction of the feds, so it would be a bunch of "haoles" on the mainland making the decision, or more accurately, NOT MAKING the decision to intervene.

If it's going to stop it's going to stop with the shareholders. If the shareholders approve a sale, I cannot imagine any federal official doing anything to stop it. Heaven forbid we upset Senator Schatz THE junior senator in congress.

I'm not arguing the point that business is business. To certain extent you are right. If it would be a beneficial transaction it would happen. My point is, if anyone tried to buy Hawaiian, it would be clear that the transaction would not be beneficial to Hawaii. The results would be that the backlash would put into play the benefit to the shareholders and their rights vs the common good. (sorry, 2 glasses of wine and I get erudite in my own mind)

 

[Dan Roman]

The reality is, Hawaiian works as Hawaiian Air. It really isn't that much of a plus to say, Delta.

 

[General Lee]

The reality is, Hawaiian works as Hawaiian Air. It really isn't that much of a plus to say, Delta.

Dan,

Would it help Delta if Hawaiian, the competitor, wasn't there? How much would that be worth? Just askin.... All just hypothetical, but I think you are thinking about it differently. Some people may want your airline around, and some might not. Some CEOs didn't put much fight into arguing against an AA/US merger, primarily because it got rid of one more name on the internet screen for people to look at. Fewer names might mean higher fares, and more profits.


Bye Bye---General Lee

 

[Dan Roman]

Dan,

Would it help Delta if Hawaiian, the competitor, wasn't there? How much would that be worth? Just askin.... All just hypothetical, but I think you are thinking about it differently. Some people may want your airline around, and some might not. Some CEOs didn't put much fight into arguing against an AA/US merger, primarily because it got rid of one more name on the internet screen for people to look at. Fewer names might mean higher fares, and more profits.


Bye Bye---General Lee

General,

You are 100% right, I am debating from the viewpoint you say, I say it's not always about just corporate profits. I say The Hawaiian/Hawaii situation is very unique. Hawaii would suffer much more than other location did when a small competitor was absorbed and downsized by a larger carrier. I also think we have a better chance of stopping it because of many reasons, most listed above. BUT, between you and I, I do acknowledge corporate realities (greed) could trump my argument.
As to your question, sure if Hawaiian was gone, it would create a void that would open all kinds of opportunity for not just Delta, but every carrier that flies to Hawaii and it would create an opening for lot's of new competitors to pounce. You would see SWA, VA, and doesn't Spirit have a bunch of NEO's on order? But all that potential new service may hurt DAL as much as help it and the loss of all Hawaiian does and has planned for Hawaii would be a greater loss than the gain of a few more competitors to the west coast.