Alaska Airlines

MayerFM

Well-Known Member
Pues ya es un hecho, Alaska Air Group es la compradora de Virgin America, así se anuncia en un comunicado de prensa de Alaska, hoy:

SEATTLE and SAN FRANCISCO – Alaska Air Group, Inc. (NYSE: ALK), parent company of Alaska Airlines, and Virgin America, Inc. (NASDAQ: VA) today announced that their boards of directors have unanimously approved a definitive merger agreement, under which Alaska Air Group will acquire Virgin America for $57.00 per share in cash. Including existing Virgin America indebtedness and capitalized aircraft operating leases, the aggregate transaction value is approximately $4.0 billion. With an expanded West Coast presence, a larger customer base, and an enhanced platform for growth, Alaska Airlines will be positioned to provide more choices for customers, increase competition and deliver attractive returns to investors.

The combination expands Alaska Airlines' existing footprint in California, bolsters its platform for growth and strengthens the company as a competitor to the four largest U.S. airlines. Combining Alaska Airlines' well-established core markets in the Pacific Northwest and the state of Alaska with Virgin America's strong foundation in California will make Alaska Airlines the go-to airline for the more than 175,000 daily fliers in and out of Golden State airports, including San Francisco and Los Angeles.

For Virgin America customers, service will expand in the thriving technology markets in Silicon Valley and Seattle. The combined airline will also offer more frequent connections to international airline partners departing Seattle, San Francisco and Los Angeles. In addition, this transaction will open up growth opportunities in important East Coast business markets by increasing Alaska Airlines' access to slot-controlled airports like Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and the two primary New York City-area airports, John F. Kennedy International Airport and LaGuardia Airport.
[...]
Together, the combined airline will have:

1,200 daily departures, with hubs in Seattle, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Anchorage, Alaska, and Portland, Oregon.

Approximately 280 aircraft, which include regional planes, with an average age of 8.5 years.

Virgin America's fleet of 60 Airbus A319 and A320 aircraft boast three classes of service, in-flight WiFi and power outlets on every flight, as well as personal, touch-screen seatback entertainment.
[...]
Preparing for Takeoff
The combined organization will be based in Seattle under the leadership of Tilden and his senior leadership team, who collectively have nearly 15 decades of combined airline industry experience. Until receiving regulatory approval to close, Tilden and Cush will co-lead a transition team, which will develop a specific integration plan.

Alaska Airlines and Virgin America are two of the most respected aviation brands in the United States (and globally in the case of Virgin). While the companies apply for a single operating certificate, Alaska will maintain its new, refreshed brand and will work closely with Virgin America to learn more about the award-winning Virgin America brand and customer experience. And over the next few months Alaska will explore with the Virgin Group how the Virgin America brand could continue to serve a role in driving customer acquisition and loyalty to get the best from both brands.

The merger, which has been approved unanimously by the boards of directors of both companies, is conditioned on receipt of regulatory clearance, approval by Virgin America shareholders and satisfaction of other customary closing conditions. The companies expect to complete the transaction with regulators' approval no later than Jan. 1, 2017.
La nota completa se puede leer en: Alaska Air Group to Acquire Virgin America, Creating West Coast's Premier Carrier

Se crea entonces la quinta mayor aerolínea estadounidense.
 

capricardogonzalez

Well-Known Member
Mayer se ve interesante la nota, la pregunta Alaska Air solo usa B737, crees que retiren los A319/320? o se quedaran con las aeronaves esas?
 

MayerFM

Well-Known Member
Hola capricardogonzalez. Pues el tema de la flota es una de las grandes preguntas tras esta noticia; mejor que darte una opinión personal -y tal vez errada- te comparto lo comentado hoy mismo al respecto por ejecutivos de Alaska Air Group:

The combined fleet would number about 280 aircraft (including Horizon’s regional fleet), but Alaska’s mainline fleet has long been all Boeing 737s while Virgin America is an all-Airbus A320 family aircraft operator with 60 A320 family aircraft in its fleet currently. It also has 40 A320neo family aircraft on order with deliveries starting in 2017, though most of the neo deliveries are slated for after 2020.

“We have no experience with the Airbus fleet, so that will be a challenge,” Alaska EVP and COO Ben Minicucci said. “Although we love having the single fleet [of 737s], we’ll be learning about the Airbus fleet.”

But [Alaska CFO Brandon] Pederson indicated Alaska could move away from the Virgin America fleet if it chose do so. “Essentially all of the [Virgin America] fleet is leased and those leases start to roll out starting in 2020,” he said, adding that there is a “favorable cancellation provision” on Virgin America’s neo order.

Pederson described the Virgin America fleet as “a great fleet of fuel efficient young aircraft” that Alaska officials are “going to get to know.” It will be “probably years” before Alaska makes a decision on whether to retain any or all of Virgin’s A320 family fleet, he said.
FUENTE: Alaska: SFO, LAX assets key in $4 billion deal to buy Virgin America

Saludos y buenas noches.
 

capricardogonzalez

Well-Known Member
Muy interesante los detalles, haber si a la hora de la hora ya que vean el rendimiento de los Airbus y los B737 no deciren cambiar a Airbus
 

MayerFM

Well-Known Member
Pues... todos, todos los aviones de Alaska AL tienen esta inscripción:



Una cosa es ver si retienen los Airbus, ¡otra muy distinta sería cambiar a Airbus!

Saludos.
 
Les comparto el correo que me llego el día de hoy, respecto al tema del programa de viajero frecuente elavate de virgin america:

Dear Marcelo,
I wanted to follow-up on the news announced earlier this week that Virgin America has agreed to be acquired by Alaska Airlines. We've received an outpouring of support from many of you about your love for the Virgin America brand and the flying experience, for which we are incredibly humbled and grateful. We've also received questions about what this means in the short and long-term for loyal flyers like you.

In particular, many flyers have questions about whether there will be an immediate impact on their Points, Status and the flying experience they've come to expect from Virgin America. Please know that you will not see any changes during the next several months – and potentially until the end of the year – until the merger receives regulatory and shareholder approval. Furthermore, there will likely be no significant changes to your flying experience for as many as 18 months or more while the two airlines merge into one. Until the transaction is officially approved – typically a process that can take upwards of six months – both airlines will continue to operate independently and there will be no changes to our flight schedules, the Virgin America product and guest experience, Elevate Status levels or your ability to earn and redeem points. Each airline will maintain separate websites, separate guest service teams and distinct frequent flyer programs. If you book a Virgin America flight, you will fly on Virgin America. In short, there will be no short-term changes in what you have come to expect from Virgin America's award-winning experience.

At the point when the Virgin America Elevate program is merged into the Alaska Airlines Mileage Plan program, you should also know there will be no disruption to your earnings or redemptions. Your Points balance and Status level will be honored in Alaska Airline's Mileage Plan, which has been ranked the #1 airline rewards program by U.S. News and World Report for the past two years. In addition, you will be able to use your Status levels and earned Points across a significantly expanded network – including 114 destinations in North America and 900 global destinations through Alaska Airline's robust network of international partners. This means that you can continue to fly Virgin America and accrue Points as normal, from now until when the plans combine, and you can be confident that all your points – whether earned prior to or after the transaction announcement – will be reflected in your new or existing Alaska Mileage Plan account.

For more, you can find our latest Q&A on our website. You can also call us on 1.877.FLY.VIRGIN (877.359.8474), should you have any questions. Elevate Silver or Elevate Gold members can contact us by calling your exclusive reservation line or send an email to your dedicated email address when you log into your Elevate account.

Thank you for your loyalty and for flying with us. Together, with Alaska Airlines, our intent is to make this integration as seamless as possible and to create the premier airline for West Coast travelers. As airlines both known for our commitment to operational excellence and guest loyalty – we hope to create an even better flying experience across an expanded network.

Sincerely,
Stuart Dinnis
Director of Loyalty
Virgin America

Saludos
 

Darknight

Member
RICHARD BRANSON: There was 'sadly nothing I could do to stop' Alaska Air's takeover of Virgin America


After the announcement of the $4 billion acquisition of Virgin America by Alaska Air, Virgin founder Richard Branson expressed his disappointment in the move, saying there was nothing he could do to prevent it.

"I would be lying if I didn't admit sadness that our wonderful airline is merging with another," Branson wrote Monday in a post on Virgin's website.

"Because I'm not American, the US Department of Transportation stipulated I take some of my shares in Virgin America as non-voting shares, reducing my influence over any takeover. So there was sadly nothing I could do to stop it."


According to Department of Transportation regulation, only 25% of an airline based in the US can be owned by a foreign entity or non-US citizen, meaning Branson's control as a British citizen was limited.

Throughout the post, Branson told the story of how Virgin America, along with its sister companies Virgin Atlantic and Virgin Blue, came to be and the purpose of creating the airline.

"Our US airline, Virgin America, also started out of frustration," the post said.

"As more airlines consolidated and grew larger and more focused on the bottom line, flying in the US became an awful experience. Despite moves to block our airline from flying, Virgin America began service in August 2007 — with the goal of making flying good again."

According to Branson, Virgin has attempted to create unique customer experience in the face of an ever-consolidating industry that he said led to the move.

"In 2007, when the airline started service, 60 per cent of the industry was consolidated," Branson wrote. "Today, the four mega airlines control more than 80 per cent of the US market. Consolidation is a trend that sadly cannot be stopped. Likely feeling the same competitive pressures as Virgin America, Alaska Airlines approached Virgin America with a proposal to merge."

Branson has been a longtime critic of mergers in the industry, such as battles against the alliance of American Airlines and British Airways in 2010 and the merger of American and US Airways in 2013.

Branson went on to compliment the employees of Virgin America, and he stressed that he hoped Alaska Airlines would recognize the value of Virgin America.


Source: Business Insider. Bob Bryan. April 04, 2016
 

MIG

Moderator
Alaska Air Group ha cerrado la adquisición del antiguo competidor Virgin America, un movimiento que se produce una semana después que los reguladores aprobaron el acuerdo y sigue un proceso de varios años de consolidación de las aerolíneas estadounidenses.

Con sede en Seattle Alaska, que ha vuelto recientemente algunos de los resultados financieros más potentes del sector, decidirá a principios de 2017, si se conservará la marca Virgin America en el portador fusionada.

Alaska dice que el acuerdo $ 4 mil millones serán proporcionar más opciones a sus clientes al tiempo que permite a la empresa consolidada para competir mejor contra gigantes fusionadas ya de por American Airlines, Delta Air Lines y United Airlines.

Las compañías aéreas, notas de Alaska, controlan el 84% del tráfico aéreo estadounidense.

"Alaska Airlines y Virgin America pasará el año que viene trabajando para conseguir una autorización de la Administración Federal de Aviación para permitir que las dos líneas aéreas que operan como una sola portadora," Alaska dice en un comunicado de prensa 14 de diciembre.

Alaska, que obtuvo una ganancia operativa de $ 1.3 mil millones en el 2015, espera que la FAA otorgará un certificado combinado a principios de 2018, que dice.

Virgin America, con sede en Burlingame, California, obtuvo un beneficio operativo de $ 177 millones el año pasado, según documentos financieros.

Alaska añade que la filial Horizon Air, que opera actualmente los aviones regionales bajo la marca Alaska, continuará operando bajo su propio certificado.

Aunque la fusión reúne a dos flotas de aviones más dispares - Virgin America opera único avión A320 de Airbus familiar y Alaska opera Boeing 737 - con el tiempo ayudará a la compañía combinada cuenta de $ 225 millones en beneficios anuales, Alaska ha dicho.

Con la fusión, Alaska y Virgin operarán una flota de 286 aviones y volar cerca de 1.200 vuelos diarios, sirviendo 118 destinos en los EE.UU., México, Canadá, Costa Rica y Cuba, dice Alaska.

También operará más vuelos desde California que en cualquier otra línea aérea, de acuerdo a Alaska.

Alaska opera centros en Seattle y Portland, pero tiene importantes operaciones en varios aeropuertos de California, mientras que Virgin America opera un centro de San Francisco.

Crecimiento continuará, con Alaska anunciando que el próximo verano se pondrá en marcha nuevos vuelos desde San Francisco a Orlando, Minneapolis y Orange County.

Con el acuerdo se cerró, Alaska se moverá hacia adelante con la combinación de los aspectos de las empresas. El 19 de diciembre, los miembros del programa de viajero frecuente de cada aerolínea podrán ganar premios para viajar en vuelos de la otra, dice Alaska.

Ese mismo día, asientos en los vuelos de Virgin America va a vender en el sitio web de Alaska, añade.

Alaska ha anunciado su intención de compra en abril de Virgin America por $ 2.6 mil millones en efectivo más $ 1.4 mil millones en deuda asumida. Los accionistas de Virgin America aprobaron el acuerdo en julio, dejando la decisión en manos del Departamento de Justicia de Estados Unidos, la cual se aprueban con condiciones la fusión el 6 de diciembre.

Las condiciones de Alaska, que aceptó, requieren la compañía combinada para terminar con códigos compartidos Americana sobre docenas de rutas y prohibir la aerolínea fusionada enajenar a puertas y ranuras que American estaba obligada a renunciar como condición para el 2013 su fusión con US Airways.

Esas puertas y las ranuras están en Dallas Love Field, Nueva York LaGuardia y el aeropuerto nacional de Washington.

Alaska dice que los cambios de código compartido requeridos eliminarán $ 60 millones en ingresos anuales de código compartido, pero se espera que los nuevos pasajeros conformarán $ 40 millones a $ 45 millones de esa pérdida.

Al anunciar el acuerdo, los ejecutivos reconocen diferencias entre las dos compañías. Alaska opera en gran medida como una aerolínea tradicional legado, mientras que Virgin America comercializa como un advenedizo de la cadera para los viajeros expertos en tecnología.

"Creemos diferentes obras", el director ejecutivo de Alaska Brad Tilden dice en el comunicado. "Las dos líneas aéreas pueden parecer diferentes, pero nuestro cliente principal y el enfoque empleado es mucho lo mismo."

En junio, dijo Tilden Alaska fue jugando con la idea de mantener la Virgen como una marca distintiva dentro de Alaska.

Alaska ahora dice que "no se han tomado decisiones sobre la marca Virgin America".

"Alaska planea continuar operando la flota de Virgin America con su nombre y el producto actual por un período de tiempo mientras se lleva a cabo exhaustivos estudios para entender lo que los volantes valor más", dice el comunicado de prensa de Alaska.

"Esta es una decisión muy importante, y uno que merece meses de análisis reflexivo y profundo", añade Tilden. "Tenemos la intención de tomar una decisión sobre la marca Virgin America principios del próximo año."

El transportista, sin embargo, presentará hoy un 737 pintado con un diseño previsto para representar las marcas de los transportistas fusionadas.

Tilden seguirá siendo el CEO de la compañía combinada, mientras que el jefe de operaciones de Alaska Ben Minicucci se convertirá en el CEO de Virgin America, sucediendo a David Cush.

anterior director financiero de Virgin America Peter Hunt es ahora presidente de la aerolínea, dice Alaska.

La fusión se reduce a nueve el número de líneas aéreas de Estados Unidos con las redes domésticas sustanciales dentro de los EE.UU. continentales.

Los otros son de Allegiant Air, American, Delta, Frontier Airlines, JetBlue Airways, Spirit Airlines, Southwest Airlines y United Airlines.

Otros jugadores como Hawaiian Airlines y Sun Country Airlines.

En los últimos años, Delta se fusionó con Northwest Airlines, Estados fusionó con Continental Airlines, American fusionó con US Airways y el suroeste se fusionó con AirTran Airways.
 

MIG

Moderator
El Grupo Alaska Air confirmó que Virgin America operará como una subsidiaria independiente hasta una fecha tentativa en 2018, cuando Alaska Airlines y Virgin America recibirían un único certificado de operación.

La fusión crearía la quinta aerolínea más grande con una cuota de mercado del 5,1%. Juntos, los cuatro grandes aerolíneas, incluidas United Continental ( UAL ), American Airlines ( AAL ), Delta Air Lines ( DAL ), y Southwest Airlines ( LUV control) 84% del mercado de viajes aéreos en los EE.UU..
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GERMAN RGL

Well-Known Member
Alaska inicia vuelos en verano en la ruta Sacramento-Los Cabos el proximo 10 de junio con una frecuencia semanal (sábados)
 
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MayerFM

Well-Known Member
No hay fecha oficial de inicio, pero Alaska AL ya anunció que lanzará el vuelo entre la Ciudad de México y San Francisco:

SAN FRANCISCO, March 9, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Three months after its acquisition of Virgin America, Alaska Airlines is growing its Bay Area footprint, adding 13 new nonstop markets from San Francisco International Airport and Mineta San Jose International Airport. The routes mark the single largest new market announcement in Alaska Airlines history. With the additional flights, Alaska Airlines and Virgin America will offer guests 125 daily nonstop flights to 42 destinations from the three major Bay Area airports.

"The 10 new San Francisco routes and three new San Jose routes offer something for both the leisure and business traveler, including exciting destinations like New Orleans, Baltimore, Austin and Kona, Hawaii," said Andrew Harrison, executive vice president and chief commercial officer at Alaska Airlines. "Our strategy is to use the same philosophy that's worked well for us in our Pacific Northwest hubs, which is to offer convenient, nonstop flights to the places guests fly to most. And if your itinerary requires travel overseas, our 10 global airline partners offer 137 international departures a week from the Bay Area."

The new flights build on previously announced Bay Area routes scheduled to begin in the coming months, which include San Jose-Newark, San Jose-Burbank, San Francisco-Orlando, San Francisco-Orange County, San Francisco-Minneapolis and San Francisco-Mexico City.
[...]
*Note: Service between San Francisco and Mexico City will begin later this year, pending government approval.
FUENTE:Alaska Airlines announces 13 new nonstop routes from the Bay Area

Quedamos al pendiente del aviso de la fecha de inicio, saludos por lo pronto.
 

MayerFM

Well-Known Member
No hay fecha oficial de inicio, pero Alaska AL ya anunció que lanzará el vuelo entre la Ciudad de México y San Diego:

SAN DIEGO, March 15, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Alaska Airlines today announced increased investment in Southern California by adding service to six new destinations from San Diego International Airport. New nonstop service includes daily flights to Albuquerque, New Mexico; Austin, Texas; Kansas City, Missouri; Minneapolis/St. Paul; Omaha, Nebraska; and St. Louis. By late August, Alaska will fly 40 daily departures to 28 destinations from San Diego, including the most nonstop flights to Mexico and Hawaii.
[...]
The new flights build on previously announced routes, which include daily nonstop flights between San Diego and Baltimore starting today, three-times-daily service between San Diego and Sacramento starting tomorrow, and daily service between San Diego and Mexico City. Flight schedules for Mexico City will be announced in the coming months, pending government approval.
FUENTE: Alaska Airlines' California growth continues, adding six new nonstop routes from San Diego

Saludos.
 

kik

Well-Known Member
Alaska Airlines retirará la marca Virgin America en el 2019

Pues ya es un hecho, Alaska Air Group es la compradora de Virgin America, así se anuncia en un comunicado de prensa de Alaska, hoy:


La nota completa se puede leer en: Alaska Air Group to Acquire Virgin America, Creating West Coast's Premier Carrier

Se crea entonces la quinta mayor aerolínea estadounidense.
fuente: eleconomista.es

Fue la primera aerolínea en ofrecer WiFi a bordo en todos sus vuelos. Televisión vía satélite y enchufes en cada asiento. Luces de colores en los compartimentos de cabina de una flota nueva. Vídeos sobre la forma de actuar en caso de emergencia en formato musical hollywoodiense. Todo esto dejará de ser la seña de identidad de Virgin America, que desaparecerá de los aeropuertos en 2019.

La compañía, fundada en 2004 y que empezó a operar el 8 de agosto de 2007, fue comprada el pasado año por Alaska Air Group por un montante total de 2.600 millones de dólares. Hasta la fecha han mantenido la marca Virgin, pero este miércoles han anunciado que a partir de 2019 integrarán toda la flota bajo la marca matriz para hacer fuerza.

Bajo el título "Alaska Airlines y Virgin America comparten su visión para el futuro", la matriz asegura en un comunicado que, pese a los cambios, "la aerolínea combinada adoptará muchos de los elementos de marca que a los entusiastas de Virgin America les encanta sobre su aerolínea favorita, incluyendo entretenimiento durante el vuelo, luces ambientales, música y el deseo de hacer del vuelo una experiencia diferente para los invitados".

Alaska Air se convirtió con la adquisición en la quinta mayor aerolínea estadounidense, sumando 1.200 vuelos diarios y una flota cercana a los 300 aviones.

El fundador de Virgin, Richard Branson, ha lamentado la desaparición de la marca. "Muchas lágrimas se han derramado hoy", ha apuntado en su blog, agregando que Alaska Airlines "tiene un modelo de negocio muy diferente y tristemente no pudo encontrar la forma de mantener su marca y la de Virgin America".

"Si echas de menos volar en Virgin America, aún tienes a sus preciosas hermanas: Virgin Atlantic comienza a prestar servicio entre Londres y Seattle la próxima semana, y Virgin Australia comenzará el trayecto directo de Melbourne a Hong Kong la semana siguiente", apunta Branson en su por lo demás emotivo texto. "Como una marca emprendedora, Virgin siempre está empezando nuevos negocios. Y no pararemos", subraya.

Y en los malos momentos, Branson siempre podrá consolarse viendo el original vídeo que su aerolínea desarrolló para contar al pasajero las medidas de seguridad en caso de accidente:

[YOUTUBE]DtyfiPIHsIg[/YOUTUBE]

link: http://www.eleconomista.es/transpor...erolinea-de-America-desaparecera-en-2019.html
 

MayerFM

Well-Known Member
Hoy fue el vuelo inaugural de Alaska AL (operado por Skywest) entre San Diego y la Ciudad de México, aquí una nota al respecto:

SEATTLE, Nov. 6, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Alaska Airlines today begins nonstop service between San Diego and Mexico City's Benito Juarez International Airport. San Diego is the third West Coast city to see nonstop service to Mexico's largest metropolitan city with Los Angeles and San Francisco added in August 2017. With more than 100 flights a week to Mexico from California, Alaska Airlines offers California flyers more flight options to Mexico than any other U.S. carrier.

"Alaska continues the most significant network expansion in the company's 85-year history, with the addition of nonstop service between Mexico City and San Diego," said John Kirby, Alaska's vice president of capacity planning. "Mexico City is a leading global cultural and financial center, and we're pleased to offer our guests another convenient, cost-effective option to get there from Southern California."

"This is great news for our city," said San Diego Mayor Kevin Faulconer. "By providing nonstop service from San Diego to Mexico City, we are creating more opportunities to promote our shared interests, attract foreign investment and increase tourism. This new direct flight is another exciting step forward that will strengthen ties with our neighbors in Mexico."

The year-round, nonstop service marks the ninth destination Alaska serves to Mexico. Other destinations with service from California include Cancun, Ixtapa/Zihuantanejo, Loreto, Los Cabos, Manzanillo, Mazatlán, Puerto Vallarta and Guadalajara. Alaska began flying to Mexico in 1988.

"We are excited to have this important connection between San Diego and Mexico City, and we are grateful to Alaska Airlines for being such a terrific air service partner, " said Kim Becker, president/CEO of San Diego International Airport. "With this flight, SAN is proud to offer nonstop service to 10 international markets."

The Mexico City flights will utilize Embraer 175 aircraft operated by SkyWest Airlines. Onboard, guests will enjoy Alaska's award-winning service, along with features to help make the most of their flight. Alaska Beyond Entertainment offers over 200 free movies and TV shows direct to customers' own devices. Other onboard amenities include a selection of food and beverage inspired by local chefs, custom leather seats with adjustable headrests and power outlets in the first class cabin.

"I congratulate Alaska Airlines for providing a new opportunity for business and leisure travelers to experience the many culinary, artistic and historical landmarks in Mexico City and throughout our country. San Diegans and Mexican nationals, as part of the vibrant Cali-Baja region, will enjoy this convenient connection," said Marcela Celorio, consul general of Mexico in San Diego.
FUENTE: Alaska Airlines starts nonstop service between San Diego and Mexico City

El E175 que hizo el vuelo inaugural fue el N173SY.

Volaris dejó la ruta el año pasado, a ver qué tal le va a Alaska AL.

Saludos.
 

tijuanero

Well-Known Member
Que tan penalizado saldrá el Embraer para llegar a SAN?


Enviado desde mi iPhone utilizando Tapatalk
 
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