Originally Posted by
1Seat 1Engine
Blakman, I don't think any SWA dudes thought we were doing you a favor. Let's be real, neither pilot group had much say in the matter. I'm not saying AT couldn't have survived, but consolidation has been the name of the game for the last decade...what do you think happens to the smaller fish, even if they're healthy?
Regardless: previous growth is not an indicator of future profit/survive-ability.
For example: My brother was hired at American in 89 and was a Capt in only 4 years...and it's been a hard, slow, sometimes backwards slide since. History is full of companies who's major reason for bankruptcy was expansion. How's your history check goin' now?
So: plans for expansion are by themselves no indicator of success.
The bottom line is, the AT board saw more value in cashing out than continuing operations. Why?
Maybe they saw the price of oil going up and realized their 717's don't compete as well at higher oil prices?
Maybe they saw the AT pilots strike vote and realized their days of labor cost advantages were over?
I don't know the answer, but they voted with their pocketbooks. Blame them.
I am not speaking in reference to the purchase alone. I am speaking in reference to what I've seen with my own eyes. Some, and I say SOME, of the SWA folks have been acting like SWA did AT a huge favor by purchasing them and that they should be happy to work for SWA as if they $h!t rose pedals. If SWA is all about LUV like the preach so often, then they should welcome the AT guys with open arms, not anguish and conceit. That's all.
While I do agree that present position has no relevance on future operations and growth, you proved my main point when you used the analogy regarding the big healthy fish. And yes, consolidation is the new thing these days.
The history check is still going well and again, you as well as every other guy, seem to bring in other situations and airlines into the mix. I am speaking specifically about the SWA/AT acquisition and etc.
I do somewhat blame the board for approving the acquisition because they knew just as well as anyone else that it was a huge money gain for them. It wasn't about sticking to their company and making it profitable. It was about ME ME ME and how much money am I going to cash out because of it. If you don't believe me, look at the percentage of profit that the whole AT board made in contrast to every other CEO and board of other airlines. It's astonishing, so yes I do blame the board but that's beside the point at this moment.
As to your other two points about the oil and the strike, that's a very good question and I'm sure that a lot of AT guys/gals are still in question of that.