Understood completely - just curious if everyone’s brand of grunt byproduct smelled the same or different! All kidding aside, thanks to all for weighing in - this is/has been helpful and it sounds like SWA manages bases well (no closures is impressive).
Originally Posted by
e6bpilot
Pilots are so full of $hit when they talk about base rumors. I highly doubt Mr Nashville had any better intel than anyone else on the line.
The facts:
LA is growing to over 500 pilots by the end of the year. So far the growth there has been steady and drawing from mainly western bases. It is starting to go junior.
STL and BNA are and always will be rumored bases because they are mega stations without a base. The people who decide such things don’t post on these forums. BNA was all ready for a big base opening celebration a few years ago and it turns out that our illustrious leader is a budding musician and just wanted to have a rally at the Ryman because he thought it was cool. When asked about a base opening at the event, he tilted his head like a Labrador and shrugged his shoulders.
If anything, I would look for satellite bases and/or mini domiciles to become a thing. It saves the company money and doesn’t require the infrastructure footprint of a brick and mortar domicile. Of course, there is that pesky contract to contend with.
I am glad that swa takes base openings seriously and doesn’t just do it on a whim. The last thing anyone here wants is them to start opening and closing bases as a short term solution. 11 bases is a lot. I would rather them just grow what we have.