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Delta, Alaska Airlines Ending Partnership Over Seattle Rivalry

Delta, Alaska Airlines Ending Partnership Over Seattle Rivalry

A Delta jet takes off as an Alaska Airlines plane lands at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport in SeaTac, Washington, on March 24, 2015. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)

By    |   Wednesday, 21 December 2016 05:07 PM EST

The partnership between Delta and Alaska Airlines will officially end in April, both carriers said in statements Monday.

As of April 30, the frequent flyer and codeshare partnerships between the two airlines will be terminated.

The two airlines were once very close, but their partnership had become strained in recent years as Delta built up its presence in Alaska Air’s hometown of Seattle.

The companies’ websites have details about how the termination will affect their customers. Codesharing allowed the airlines to sell seats on some of each other’s flights, and customers could also earn and redeem frequent flyer miles on both carriers’ flights.

The partnership benefited both carriers until Delta began to compete too closely with Alaska Air, particularly on flights between Seattle and California and Seattle and Alaska. As the relationship cooled, Alaskan media outlet KTOO labeled the two carriers “frenemies” in 2013.

Alaska Airlines acquired Virgin America last week, making it the fifth-largest U.S. airline. Delta is second-largest after American Airlines.

“The decision is a positive milestone for both airlines as Alaska focuses on its merger integration with Virgin America and Delta focuses on creating more customer choice at its Seattle-Tacoma International Airport hub, where it now operates more than 150 peak-day flights to more than 40 destinations,” Delta said.

Alaska Airlines said the Virgin deal “opens up growth opportunities in important East Coast business markets by increasing Alaska Air Group’s access to high-demand airports like Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport and the three primary New York City-area airports.”

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TheWire
The partnership between Delta and Alaska Airlines will officially end in April, both carriers said in statements Monday.
delta, alaska airlines, end, partnership
253
2016-07-21
Wednesday, 21 December 2016 05:07 PM
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