Good overview, but it missed a few things I found while digging through OpenAI. Skipped the cargo angle with Korean Air, glossed over the regulatory headaches around Canadian ownership, and probably gave the financial upside more credit than it deserves, given the messy work of integrating systems and fleets. But maybe there’s more to it.
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Should be a good move as Westjet is well supported in western Canada and has a good network with a dedicated workforce. We have a new government but time will tell if there is any commitment to western concerns and enterprises west of the lakehead. I think it’s a smart move by Delta and Korean as it expands the routeing close to globally with a modest investment.
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Tom, I agree that Canada’s approval is likely a given, with Onex maintaining majority control. But the U.S. side is a different story. Given the current political climate, I wouldn’t be surprised if American, United, and other U.S. carriers push back. They won’t want Delta and Korean grabbing a bigger share of the transborder market without a fight. The DOT has already made this clear back in 2020, Delta and WestJet had to scrap their joint venture after being told to give up LaGuardia slots and drop Swoop. They walked away, calling the demands unreasonable.