How Alaska Airlines & Delta's Partnership Turned Into an Airline War

Published Jul 21, 2026, 7:00 AM EDT The competitive landscape in the US airline industry looked very different two decades ago. At the time, Delta Air Lines was weaker on the US West Coast, but lacked the resources and funds to grow its operations. So in this video, we take a look at how Alaska Airlines and Delta Air Lines went from friends to frenemies, why Seattle became the center of their rivalry, and how both airlines are now competing for the future of long-haul travel on the US West Coast.