The Hawaiians didn't show much love for Aloha when they needed it most, allowing Mesa to come in and destroy a 50 year old company:mad:.

I gotta admit to having a little stockholm syndrome on Hawian as well. I'm not really interested in another merge, but the last two states would be impressive moves.

There is an adams apple.

So basically 20/month.... BFD

You can get a PhD in Politics? Really? And I thought 15th century French poetry was a waste of time...

Bachelors in communications, masters in counseling, phd in sumerian culture - "How would you like that frappucino?"

Any idea what the company is looking to target for early outs?
(I'm thinking somewhere between 100-200)

Also had a jumpseater who said he was taking the early out about a week ago. So I guess it is the extra needed incentive to push some guess over the edge.

I don't think the company is targeting any number at all. From the sound of it, this is a deal that they offered the non-contract groups, and then decided to offer it to the pilots as well.

May 18 (Bloomberg) -- Southwest Airlines Co., which completed the purchase of AirTran Holdings Inc. this month, plans to end the smaller carrier's flights to six Midwest cities operated under an agreement with SkyWest Inc.

Southwest's pilot contract doesn't allow for such so-called code-share flying in the U.S., Chief Executive Officer Gary Kelly said today. Southwest has had talks with SkyWest and hasn't given a termination notice, Kelly said after the airline's annual meeting at its Dallas headquarters.

The affected cities are Des Moines, Iowa; Omaha, Nebraska; St. Louis; Akron-Canton, Ohio; Indianapolis; and Pittsburgh, and most flights are performed with regional jets to and from the Milwaukee hub, AirTran President Bob Jordan said.

Southwest serves some of the cities, such as Omaha, on its own and hopes to keep flying to all of them, although it hasn't yet determined routes, schedules or plane types, Kelly said. Omaha is home to Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway Inc., whose MidAmerican Energy Holdings Co. unit is based in Des Moines.

"We will try to sustain service in places like Des Moines even when we shut down SkyWest," Kelly said.

SkyWest, based in St. George, Utah, had no immediate comment.

Read more: Southwest to Terminate AirTran Flights Operated by SkyWest

^^^^^^^^ Now THAT'S "constructive engagement!"

The company is not targeting any pilots for the early out. Initially we were not even included in the program. Its targeted for non pilot employees. Dalpa was able to get pilots included in the program however since its structured for ground employees there will be little pilot interest. My bet is that the final pilot number will be 2 digits.