You're welcome to your own cynical opinions about people's ethics and morals these days. I might even agree with you to a certain degree. But, that has nothing to do with your nonsensical statement that AA should sell their valuable assets to "satisfy creditors and maintain pensions for their employees." That would be more appropriate in a liquidation, not a reorganization.

 

Amazing how some people think that their,or the company's, XXXX doesn't stink.

If SW ever does really trip there will be a bunch of people there laughing.

 

If the government stays out if and the merger goes through I think the creditors and employees will be happy with outcome.

Right now the government is costing them millions so the "low fare airline" can get what it couldn't on it's own.

 

Actually I am not real happy with many of the things that SWA is doing right now (i. e. our sh@t stinks). Somehow we keep making money though, so what do I know. The necessity to make changes in a poor business model are early on. Not to do the same thing year after year and wonder why "all of a sudden" one faces the possibility of bankruptcy.

I will however never wish for the demise of a company where many of the employees are just trying to make a living.

The Oscar

 

So 69% of the market at a slot controlled airport is a good thing? While the companies and employees might be happy, I would suggest that the flying public will not benefit from that arrangement and that is why the government is looking for some divestitures.

The Oscar

 

The point of my posts weren't to argue that AA should sell their assets (slots). It was in response to the suggestion that SWA (or anyone else) felt entitled to said assets (slots). To hold on to those valuable assets and shed debt (including pensions that were underfunded to begin with) is shielding management from poor financial decisions. In some cases liquidation is more beneficial to an industry than propping up companies who then continue to make the same mistakes over and over.

The Oscar

 

What does the flying public benefit more from:

1) The ability to go nonstop from their small hometown to the capital of our nation?

2) The ability to get a $39 airfare to Orlando when Southwest adds 10 more flights?


DCA is a hub. A hub brings a lot of benefits to an airport. And theres nothing wrong with an airline having a hub. If anyone needs super cheap fares for their once a year visit to Florida, BWI isn't far away and has more WN than anyone would ever need.

 

Do you work for SW? If so, do you imagine that SW will use the slots as US has used many of them, like BGR? How about you get the slots, but have to maintain that service, would that be okay?

Would SW allow gates and facilities to anyone at DAL or HOU, just to keep things honest? How about jetBlue at JFK or LGB?

Parker was right, how much more service does MCO need from the DCA area?

And if you do work for SW you should be thinking the big guy upstairs for bungling management of other airlines and the bankruptcy codes. SW has been the main beneficiary of those of US Air.

 

And the difference between DCA and BWI is??? One is slot controlled. If an airline would like to fly more out of BWI, that's up to them.

 

My apologies then. I must have gotten the wrong impression when you said, "that airlines who go through bankruptcy feel they deserve to keep the slots that could be sold to satisfy creditors and maintain pensions for their employees."


Unfortunately, management (in all industries) will make poor decisions. And, bankruptcy code is designed to get companies back on their feet. Like it or not, that's the way it works.

(As an aside, do you see a little irony that a guy that works for SWA is now the vocal champion of worker's pensions? I won't suggest that SWA was the deciding factor in killing airline employee's pensions; but, don't you think they played a significant role in ending pensions?)


I agree with you. I think GM should have failed...and the large banks too. But, I don't think liquidation is appropriate in AA's case. In fact, I think AA will be quite successful moving forward...just like Delta and United before them. I think you think that too....if you didn't, I don't think you would waste time on a Saturday arguing with a bunch of poor saps whose employer is in bankruptcy. If you did, that would be poor form, wouldn't it?