Alaska & American Explore Expanding Partnership with Revenue Sharing in Long-Haul Joint Ventures

Alaska Airlines and American Airlines are exploring an expansion of their existing partnership, specifically looking at introducing revenue sharing on select flights. Reports indicate this could involve Alaska joining American's long-haul joint ventures, such as the transpacific JV (with Japan Airlines) and the transatlantic JV (with Aer Lingus, British Airways, Finnair, and Iberia). This move would allow the airlines to coordinate fares and schedules more closely. While Alaska and American are already partners in the oneworld alliance with reciprocal benefits, this deeper integration would be significant for frequent flyers regarding award availability, elite status perks, and lounge access on long-haul routes. The article notes that while a merger was briefly discussed, it did not advance, and this revenue-sharing/JV expansion is the current focus. Regulatory scrutiny is expected due to the nature of joint ventures