Last week, Delta’s CEO Richard Anderson and Alaska Airlines’ CEO Bill Ayer were in Portland, Oregon and offered some insight on just where the close relationship between Alaska and Delta might be going.

Delta now operates non-stop flights from Portland to Amsterdam and Tokyo that were originally subsidized by Portland’s airport but which are now declared “permanent” by Delta.  They see Paris as a potential next stop.

Apparently those flights to Amsterdam and Tokyo are running pretty full now and it appears that Alaska Airlines is the one to thank for feeding traffic to those flights.  Portland is often discounted as a small city but it’s a small city with some major industry that wants both trans-Atlantic and trans-Pacific flights.  Since Alaska Airlines is the only airline in the Pacific Northwest that has a network to feed such flights, their partnership with Delta is becoming closer and closer.

I think Delta wouldn’t mind purchasing Alaska Airlines but I also think the timing isn’t right for such a purchase.  It just feels like one step over the line in terms of how regulators might envision such a merger. 

In the next few years, look for all three of the SuperLegacy airlines to start eyeing Alaska Airlines.  Delta has the best partnership with them but Alaska is no stranger to Continental (United) and American Airlines either.  They’ll do a deal with whoever makes sense. 

That’s also why I think Southwest ought to give Alaska Airlines a long, hard look as well. 

In the meantime, let’s cross our fingers on behalf of Portland and hope they get that Paris flight.

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