Originally Posted by
OscartheGrouch
To all of the ATA guys/gals that wish to blame SWA and SWAPA for your companies fate - I feel bad when anyone loses their job. That being said please realize that some of us thought your company should have been absorbed into ours initially. It was NEVER set up that way during the initial transaction and as time went on it did not look like a good idea or investment. Did we get assets and make some money with the codeshare agreement - yes. Ultimately you did not have a product that GK was interested in. Even the government canceled contracts that eventually led to your collapse. You can blame someone else all you want and claim our "mole" did you in, but your performance during your last couple of years was the reason. The complaints I heard from customers, family, and fellow employees about ATA were too numerous to count. While I am sure you will take this as personal I don't mean to state anything but the facts as I see them.
If this deal with F9 goes through it will be done just as GK has said. No huge promises like many of the RAH folks on here claim, but what he has stated about how the deal will go down. If SWA commits in some way to look after the Frontiers folks they will follow through. FAPA and SWAPA have a big say in this deal and they are in discussions right now. Promises by pilots are worthless (i.e. RAH pilots or SWA pilots on APC) until they have something in writing that is agreeable and signed.
Oscar
BTW This deal could proceed or fall through at any moment. So don't invest so much or your time a effort on what might not come about.
Great points but didn't SWA management say that they intend to purchase F9 and run them as a seperate entity while slowly selling off their Airbii and "hire" the F9 guys/gals? Then didn't he go on to say that if they couldn't get the labor relations they wanted that the deal would fall through? I remember reading this the day that the announcement was made. I also remember reading that Bedford intends to continue to grow/expand the company.
Either way I want as few people to come out of this jobless and hope the whatever happens, happens for the greater good of the pilot groups.
Straight from the horses mouth:
Southwest Airlines - Press Releases
Q: What would a possible acquisition by Southwest Airlines mean for the employees of Frontier?
A: We believe our bid proposal will allow Frontier to emerge from bankruptcy. Frontier would continue to operate independently and separately for a period of time with its Airbus aircraft and personnel. Over time, Frontier Employees would be hired into Southwest as needed to support our fleet growth and expanded operations. We believe the acquisition will boost low-fare competition across the country and certainly in the Denver market. And, again, we believes our bid will be seen as the strongest bid by all interested parties, including Frontier Employees, management, and its creditors.