So there’s been a bunch of new developments along the lines of Alaska Airlines and their partner Delta. When Delta started expanding into Alaska’s territories, things got bad. Alaska started to retaliate, with some pretty bold moves into Salt Lake City, going from service just from Seattle to nearly every big airport in the West. And just this morning, Today in the Sky is reporting that Alaska is offering double miles on British Airways flights between Seattle and London – while Delta starts that same route in a few days.
Delta and Alaska terminated their agreement for Delta to handle their ground operations in airports where Alaska isn’t as prominent, like Atlanta, Boston, and the like. And what was Delta’s reaction? They were all, “Fine! I didn’t want to help out anyway. Let’s terminate this thing early!” And in Atlanta, they did just that. Starting 2 weeks ago, Alaska has hired their own people to run the Alaska gate (moved to D8 from D14, though Atlanta airport still gets it wrong on the readerboards), and – I believe – Menzies to run ground operations.
But here’s the curious thing… Why did Alaska hire their own people for two incoming and two outgoing flights per day in Atlanta? Wouldn’t it be cheaper if they outsourced it?
Not if they’re going to increase flights to and from Atlanta!
I’m predicting that, like Salt Lake City, Alaska Airlines is going to ramp up their Atlanta flights, especially from Alaska stronghold markets like Boise, San Jose, and the like. It just makes sense for them; they’re still keeping their partnership with Delta, and feeding passengers to Delta continuing flights, but they’re also making sure that they’re going to stay dominant in the airports that they count as strongholds.
Not sure if I’m right or wrong, but history will tell us. But thing is, it just makes sense…