I'm a hopeful on the outside looking in, and I've been talking to numerous friends on the inside at different airlines about the airline life, pay, unions, a whole host of topics to get a feel for the career.

One of the questions I ask everyone is: "What is the largest threat you see to the industry?"

It's a vague question because each airline, and for that matter each pilot, could perceive different threats based on where they are in seniority, the financial health of the employer, exposure to specific market segments, etc.

Universally, the top response to the question is:

1) Another terror attack
2) Oil (fuel) prices
3) The economy
4)...

I think numbers 1 and 2 above are applicable to every airline, with oil prices having a different effect based on hedging strategy, fleet efficiency, and a few other factors.

The economy is a different player as there really isn't a good definition of how "the economy" affects airlines directly, since there really isn't a good definition of what "the economy" really is. The stock market isn't a direct indicator of the health of an economy, but it is a good indicator of how people direct their money.

As it applies to an airline, jobs are a significant indicator of the health of the economy. Employed people have money coming in, unemployed people don't (generally). Jobs growth, and secondarily wage growth is a positive thing for an airline, all other factors being the same.

From my perspective, the current pullback in the stock market is indicative of the health of the stock market, not necessarily reflective of the true health of the economy.

As a Southwest pilot, what do you see as the biggest threat to Southwest airlines, aside from the global influences mentioned above (terror attacks, etc.)?

 

Asteroid impact....

Definitely.

 

Sold all SWA stock and updated the résumé when we stopped handing out peanuts. Definitely a sign of the end times.

 

Biggest threat is the walk around in blowing snow in Detroit and freezing my nuts off.

 

Elaine Chao.

 

There are enough things to worry about. Why add something out of your control to the list?

 

This pretty much sums it all up for me

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WhIVC1lnNHI

 

Not being able to “capture” all of the captain seats during the next merger/buyout. Definitely the biggest threat to SWA pilots’ careers (even if we don’t have any orders/deliveries scheduled at the time).

Definitely....

 

Geeeeze Dude...

LET IT GO!!

 

This, everyday of the week and weekends too.

If you read how many times our economy has gone into recession in our brief 250 year history, the results will shock you; 47 times!
But on the sunny side, SWA is probably the best place anyone would want to be when one happens!