AA's motives are completely transparent. AS, however, had served LGB in the past and had been considering resuming service. LGB fits in with their West Coast strategy--they already serve BUR, LAX, ONT, and SNA. When jetBlue moved in, that certainly increased the sense of urgency, but I think Alaska's motives are at least a little less predatory than American's. But how long did those slots go unused? I don't have any sympathy for anyone who is crying that jetBlue snatched them all up. Regards, Jon -- Jon Wright mailto:jwright@xxxxxxxxxxx ----- Original Message ----- From: "Douglas Schnell" <dks28@xxxxxxxxxxx> To: <AIRLINE@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Thursday, June 05, 2003 4:16 AM Subject: Re: AS at LGB > Err, no. It is a strategic move to crush a left coast presence by JetBlue. > It is not that AA and Alaska were suddenly shown a latent demand for air > travel into and out of LGB. It is that they were willing to do nearly > anything to keep JetBlue out of the market. LGB has never been a part of > anyone's long-term plans.