CO to join Star Alliance: AC impacts
Jun 19, 2008, 12:31 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 3,393
Jun 19, 2008, 1:17 pm
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 3,393
There will be numerous benefits. Right now, CO in Star would create the cheapest, fastest all-Star alliance connecting service between Toronto and Delhi. And AC would be able to codeshare that.
Jun 19, 2008, 1:33 pm
#6
Join Date: Aug 2004
Location: Kansas City, USA
Programs: AA Gold, Delta Platinum, Marriott Titanium, IHG Plat, AVIS Preferred, Hilton Diamond
Posts: 2,066
This is great news! It will open up some more oprtions to Europe and Asia. Even though *A has it pretty well covered, the additiona of another quality carrier is always nice. ^
Jun 19, 2008, 1:35 pm
#7
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 3,393
And in a market like Kansas City, it will give you some very interesting new Star routings, via a US gateway but also YYZ.
Jun 19, 2008, 1:42 pm
#8
Join Date: Mar 2007
Location: YVR
Programs: Aeroplan Former E
Posts: 1,022
Probably were expecting it given CO would be the fifth wheel of the eventual AF-KL-DL-NW group.
CO will provide some more options to Central and South America, where *A is decidely weak. If the COPA linkage stays intact , then it might be CO and COPA to cover off the Central/South America coverage hole.
Also provides some better coverage of some parts of the united states as well plus some interesting Asian routes. It also finally gives a NYC-LON *A routing.
CO will provide some more options to Central and South America, where *A is decidely weak. If the COPA linkage stays intact , then it might be CO and COPA to cover off the Central/South America coverage hole.
Also provides some better coverage of some parts of the united states as well plus some interesting Asian routes. It also finally gives a NYC-LON *A routing.
Jun 19, 2008, 1:43 pm
#10
Join Date: Jul 2001
Location: YYC
Programs: AC Basic, UA MP Gold, Marriott Gold Elite, SPG Gold, Amex Platinum
Posts: 3,008
My prediction is the day after CO joins *A, AC will cut YYC-IAH anmd YYZ=IAH and codeshare on CO.
EWR will be common to both airlines, but will AC retain YYC-EWR or hand the route over to CO? Also will CO remove the 4 hour EWR minimum connection window for common AC-CO tickets?
EWR will be common to both airlines, but will AC retain YYC-EWR or hand the route over to CO? Also will CO remove the 4 hour EWR minimum connection window for common AC-CO tickets?
Jun 19, 2008, 1:51 pm
#12
Join Date: Oct 1999
Location: Sydney NSW Australia
Posts: 2,337
I wouldn't hold my breath on it though - and if it does go through it will be a very looooong wait.
There's a contractual restriction on CO that won't expire until 9 months after the closing of the proposed DL/NW merger (and how far away is that?!?) for starters.
Then there is the small matter of getting anti-trust approval from the U.S., which is by no means a fait accompli given the combined strength of UA/US/AC in North America plus these 3 and all the Star Euro carriers on Trans-At.
Don't get me wrong - a very good addition to the alliance indeed (probably the best of the U.S. legacies at the moment) and a more than handy back-up to step in should UA/US or both vanish. They will bring more of the Pacific (via Air Mike) and Atlantic plus Central and South America into play. If they do manage to get in, then hopefully COPA will follow on their coat-tails filling in another gap in the :-: network.
There's a contractual restriction on CO that won't expire until 9 months after the closing of the proposed DL/NW merger (and how far away is that?!?) for starters.
Then there is the small matter of getting anti-trust approval from the U.S., which is by no means a fait accompli given the combined strength of UA/US/AC in North America plus these 3 and all the Star Euro carriers on Trans-At.
Don't get me wrong - a very good addition to the alliance indeed (probably the best of the U.S. legacies at the moment) and a more than handy back-up to step in should UA/US or both vanish. They will bring more of the Pacific (via Air Mike) and Atlantic plus Central and South America into play. If they do manage to get in, then hopefully COPA will follow on their coat-tails filling in another gap in the :-: network.
Jun 19, 2008, 1:53 pm
#13
Join Date: Mar 2001
Location: Toronto, ON
Programs: AC 75K
Posts: 6,358
Jun 19, 2008, 2:06 pm
#14
Join Date: Apr 2000
Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 3,665
Deja vu - remember when AC was a major holder of CO stock and Houston was a hub and there were codeshares? More recetly, it was nice to see a remnant of this in Manchester NH where CO handles AC (Air Georgian) flights. Rip Van Winkle will wake up and not know he's been away. Next thing you know, TWA will reappear and will buiild a terminal shaped like a wing.
Jun 19, 2008, 2:10 pm
#15
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Posts: 3,393
My prediction is the day after CO joins *A, AC will cut YYC-IAH anmd YYZ=IAH and codeshare on CO.
EWR will be common to both airlines, but will AC retain YYC-EWR or hand the route over to CO? Also will CO remove the 4 hour EWR minimum connection window for common AC-CO tickets?
EWR will be common to both airlines, but will AC retain YYC-EWR or hand the route over to CO? Also will CO remove the 4 hour EWR minimum connection window for common AC-CO tickets?