Delta downplays Seattle rivalry with former 'frenemy' Alaska Airlines

Delta Air Lines says there's room for two in Seattle, where it shares a hub with hometown carrier Alaska Airlines."I wouldn't suggest that there's a battle for Seattle," CEO Ed Bastian said, speaking Friday on the airline's earnings call.But make no mistake: Delta and Alaska are competing aggressively for Seattle customers.And "battle" or not, that fight — or whatever you call it — is playing out on an increasingly global stage.2 hub carriers in SeattleAlaska is far and away the biggest carrier at Seattle-Tacoma International Airport (SEA). This year, it will operate roughly double the number of flights that Delta will fly from the airport, according to data from aviation analytics firm Cirium.KEVIN CARTER/GETTY IMAGESBut Delta has a much more robust long-haul international footprint, boasting routes to a host of places Alaska doesn't fly — from Shanghai to Taipei, Barcelona and Amsterdam.That's not surprising, considering Alaska — until the last couple of years — had primarily operated as a domestic airline, with a heavily West Coast network.However, things are changing.Alaska has global ambitionsTwo years after acquiring Hawaiian Airlines and a new fleet of long-haul planes, Alas...