AU96

Reading this thread (and what most threads on APC seem to de-generate into) reminds me of that Family Guy episode where Stewie's in the orphanage and tells all the orphans from different countries why they should all hate each other and blame their problems on each other...somewhere there's a Stewie in an airline union and/or corporate office reading this laughing and saying "dance puppets, dance!"

TrojanCMH

So true. People complain about not being unified and then in the same sentence talk about how much they hate so and so pilot group because of something that happened that was completly out of said pilot groups control. Makes perfect sense...

LuvJockey

I'll bet we'll soon get a few articles like this one, too.



Local executives sound off about AirTran's plans to acquire Midwest

Posted on July 19, 2007 4:37 AM


A sampling of business leaders in southeastern Wisconsin indicates the majority do not believe that AirTran Holdings Inc.'s hostile takeover of Midwest Air Group Inc. would be good for Milwaukee, but they think the acquisition is inevitable, nonetheless.

Small Business Times asked 18 local business leaders to respond to some questions about AirTran's plans to acquire the Oak Creek-based parent company of Midwest Airlines.

According to the unscientific poll, more than half (10) believe AirTran's acquisition would not be good for Milwaukee, while only two believe it would be good for the community, and six gave answers that were not conclusive.

The vast majority of respondents (13) believe that AirTran will not live up to its promises to remain as supportive of Milwaukee's nonprofit sector.

Finally, more than half (10) believe that an acquisition of Midwest is inevitable.

The survey questions were asked after AirTran chairman and chief executive officer Joseph Leonard made his pitch to the Milwaukee business community at the Rotary Club of Milwaukee's noon luncheon on July 17.

The following are the responses to the SBT questions about AirTran's proposed acquisition of Midwest. SBT invites readers to respond to these comments at the end of the blog.

Steve Haas, president, EGX Group, West Allis

Do you believe that AirTran's acquisition of Midwest Air Group would be good for southeastern Wisconsin?
"No. Midwest gives Milwaukee part of its national identity. This will change way more things in this community than our air travel service. Their current level of service will not be retained and will become just a part of the best 'cattle carrier' in the air."

Do you believe AirTran will live up to its promise to remain committed to Milwaukee's nonprofit sector?
"Is it a legal promise? If it is, and I can't believe it is, what makes it binding? I do not believe they will."

__________________________________________________ ____

David Kliber, president and CEO, S-F Analytical Laboratories Inc., Milwaukee

Do you believe that AirTran's acquisition of Midwest Air Group would be good for southeastern Wisconsin?
"NO! It will hurt our communities and Wisconsin too, because AirTran does NOT really care about our community, and the quality of their business model is poor relative to Midwest's. Their management team has proven that they do not keep promises, a basic character element required in our Milwaukee communities by the local market. AirTran is, in my opinion, a 'cattle car' approach to transporting people. I believe that Midwest can and does make money for its shareholders, and it creates a sustaining demand from its growing customer base that also sells it by referral to other customers in local and outside markets. Furthermore, Midwest's staff really does care about the people it serves every day. This is hard for someone in distant Atlanta to understand. Midwest is also a part of the fabric of our community … the convention center, events and the cookies …. and it is also something that we all sell as a good part of moving to and staying in Milwaukee. We need positives for the Milwaukee 7, and Midwest Airlines has been one for many years. If Air Tran were to move its headquarters here and retain the Midwest logo and business model as a subsidiary under local Midwest executive leadership, perhaps there could be some support from the business and general communities here in southeastern Wisconsin. Unless they approach it that way, Air Tran will be my last choice for flying."


Do you believe AirTran will live up to its promise to remain committed to Milwaukee's nonprofit sector?
"No. They will do donations to charity events just to show well, but it will drift away in the future because they are in headquartered in Atlanta and not Milwaukee."


__________________________________________________ ____

Dorothy Krupa, vice president of Internet banking, North Shore Bank, Brookfield

Do you believe that AirTran's acquisition of Midwest Air Group would be good for southeastern Wisconsin?
"No. Midwest Express Would likely be swallowed up by AirTran and lose the uniqueness that has made it great. Midwest is committed to Milwaukee and its future, I don't feel AirTran would have the same commitment."

Do you believe AirTran will live up to its promise to remain committed to Milwaukee's nonprofit sector?
"Perhaps for a while, but if cuts were needed to be looked at, I feel Milwaukee's nonprofit sector would be one of the first items to be cut."


__________________________________________________ ____


Kirk Strong, principal and sales, marketing and media expert, Smart Inter@ctive Media, Mequon

Do you believe that AirTran's acquisition of Midwest Air Group would be good for southeastern Wisconsin?
"No, I think ultimately it will be bad. People take great pride in having a great local airline, and I fear that being part of Airtran is going to drastically reduce the quality of the flights in and out of Milwaukee."

Do you believe AirTran will live up to its promise to remain committed to Milwaukee's nonprofit sector?
"Probably not, since most companies who aren't headquartered in the same city eventually reduce their commitment to local causes."

__________________________________________________ ____

John Koss Jr., vice president of sales, Koss Corp., Milwaukee

Do you believe that AirTran's acquisition of Midwest Air Group would be good for southeastern Wisconsin?
"Not sure it will affect biz in Wisconsin one way or the other."

Do you believe AirTran will live up to its promise to remain committed to Milwaukee's nonprofit sector?
"I believe what they say."

__________________________________________________ ____

Paul Cunningham, owner, Schreiner's Restaurant, Fond du Lac

Do you believe that AirTran's acquisition of Midwest Air Group would be good for southeastern Wisconsin?
"No. AirTran is a different culture, not at all like Midwest. Midwest is unique, AirTran is not."

Do you believe AirTran will live up to its promise to remain committed to Milwaukee's nonprofit sector?
"No. More importantly, do I believe AirTran will provide the service Midwest is famous for? No."

__________________________________________________ ____

David Riemer, director of the Wisconsin Health Project

Do you believe that AirTran's acquisition of Midwest Air Group would be good for southeastern Wisconsin?
"No. Poorer service. Less attention to Milwaukee's needs. Risk of loss or diminution of frequent flyer miles."

Do you believe AirTran will live up to its promise to remain committed to Milwaukee's nonprofit sector?
"No."
__________________________________________________ ____
Roger Stafford, chief financial officer, Key Milwaukee magazine

Do you believe that AirTran's acquisition of Midwest Air Group would be good for southeastern Wisconsin?
"Yes and no. Since AirTran is buying gates and presence here, I would suspect that Mitchell (International Airport) would have an increase in the number of flights, locations, etc., at the start. Over time and through the continuing cycles of air traffic, my feeling is that the initial benefits would fade and that our air options would be less than if Midwest continued as the primary service. Having an airline based here, even one of the smaller systems, is a plus for the region. It puts Milwaukee in a league with much larger cities and far ahead of cities of the same size. It's good for business throughout southeastern Wisconsin. Midwest's quality reputation also is something that strengthens the business community. The current (Midwest) management's business plan seems to maintain that quality image, something that seems missing in the AirTran plan."

Do you believe AirTran will live up to its promise to remain committed to Milwaukee's nonprofit sector?
"No. Corporations do not have an unlimited amount of funds to spend on goodwill. Atlanta will get the bulk of the charitable contributions. Milwaukee's nonprofits will get fewer roundtrips on AirTran for their silent auctions. And if they do get a contribution, the auction purchasers will be willing to bid far less for cramped seats than they now bid for 'the best care in the air.' Operations like the Midwest Center, Milwaukee 7 and other economic development efforts, which technically are nonprofits, are unlikely to receive the support they have received from Midwest. I don't find AirTran's contention of continued support credible."

__________________________________________________ ____

Bob Chernow, Milwaukee business executive

Do you believe that AirTran's acquisition of Midwest Air Group would be good for southeastern Wisconsin?
"I do not think an AirTran buyout would be good. Inevitably, firms make over the companies and cultures of those they buy. As they say, a fox knows many tricks, a skunk but one. AirTran is successful because they are a well-operated, cheap carrier, but they are not a Southwest Air. With few exceptions, Midwest's personnel and approach is user-friendly. When I fly AirTran (which I do a few times a year), there is not the same service. Seats are crowded and cramped."


Do you believe AirTran will live up to its promise to remain committed to Milwaukee's nonprofit sector?
"My guess is that the promises that have been made will fall by the wayside of acquisition. Who knows what AirTran will do with the nonprofit sector? Midwest has used this to the mutual advantage of charities and themselves."


__________________________________________________ ____
Gary Zimmerman Jr., president, Creative Business Interiors, West Allis

Do you believe that AirTran's acquisition of Midwest Air Group would be good for southeastern Wisconsin?
"The answer to this is, 'unknown.' If AirTran increases Midwest's financial strength, does not dismantle Midwest's corporate structure and keeps the same level of service while increasing flight options, the acquisition could be a good thing. If they change the culture, level of service and move jobs out of Milwaukee, (then it would be a bad thing)."

Do you believe AirTran will live up to its promise to remain committed to Milwaukee's nonprofit sector?
"Yes, it's just good for business."

__________________________________________________ ____

Andy Stanislaw, software administrator for a local printing company, Wauwatosa.

Do you believe that AirTran's acquisition of Midwest Air Group would be good for southeastern Wisconsin?
"I think any time a larger company swoops in and plucks a highly recognizable business out of your city/state, it's not a real good thing. Midwest is continuously voted the nation's best airline, bringing national recognition to the little homegrown planes jetting in and out of Mitchell International. Which is clearly what AirTran is looking for here - that name and that recognition."

Do you believe AirTran will live up to its promise to remain committed to Milwaukee's nonprofit sector?
"Yes, but strictly as a PR move. It's one of those promises that they will hang their hats on for a few years, but will most likely put less and less effort into as time goes by."

__________________________________________________ ____



(article edited for length and some content)

F9er

"Shiny Jet syndrome," Seriously?

I, like 99.9% of the F9 pilots came from a commuter. I would rather commute accross the country than bump back to an RJ captain.

You are missing a huge point, at F9 we have a good QOL, pay is ok, but the QOL is what I and others love.

Is it not fair to say that when/if F9 grows and FO positions are needed it would be an open bid for a RAH guy? He/She has the luxury of not having to interview like all of us did and start where we started, at the bottom.

Either way good luck, but I myself would rather wait 2,3,4 years and be at the bottom of SWA than "grow" F9 with 190's at RAH.

Cheers

flyguy81

if it were up to me you'd be fenced on current equipment and pay. only chance one of us would even see a airbus would be growth. to preserve QOL, could do something similar to TWA/AA in STL where your seniority # would be significantly higher in DEN than if you were to transfer to BUF (no idea why you'd do that, but if you lived there maybe you'd want to).

If SWA wins out, I hope you get in writing something pertaining to labor so that when they sell off the airbuses you all don't get furloughed without a SWA number. If they think they can get rid of you without giving you a spot on their list, it's a bigger slap in the face than you being relegated back to a "commuter".

Nortonious

No, let me simplify it for you:

Your numerous, lengthy, High PRF posts are really clogging up this thread. I guess that's your goal. Congrats, you win. You're like ToiletDuck on roid-rage. My only hope is that you just let it go.


Anyway, for those that really care about the actual title of this thread:

We (SWA pilots) got some good info from our union today. We should all know more soon (next week of course). FAPA bros came to DAL and met with SWAPA bros this week. Sounds like it went fine, just initial talks. Really we're all waiting on the company (SWA) to decide in which fashion they are going to pursue this "transaction" and then we'll be able to address the Labor Group Issues. Good news is SWA has come out and said they want SWAPA involved right off the bat. I am cautiously optimistic if this deal goes through that the vast majority of FAPA and SWAPA pilots will be content with the end game. And yes, this of course assumes SWA wins the bid.

AU96

Thank you Nortonious for bringing this thread out of the realm of verbose speculation of devious corporate/pilot group intentions and back into reality.

I am however a little worried that Lifer will feel the need to respond to your call-out with another three mile long post full of fortune cookie quotes...

Seabat 33

Things we know from WN's side. Carl wants section 6 done first. There will probably be a Den base. Looks like there is going to be a fence around Den. There will be no arbitration.

SB 33

Barney17

So any more thoughts on how this all will affect the Poolies?

Nortonious

Don't know, but most chatter I hear seems to point at any SLI putting F9 above poolies. I know, not what you wanted to hear. Strong case can be made about poolies were actually vetted and "hired" by SWA. FWIW-I've got a bro or two in the pool and really want to see them here.