Originally Posted by RJSAviator76 (Post 2775415)

Just curious, were you at HAL when AQ was around?



Wait until SWA sees just how big of a cashcow interisland really is... I don't think the bean counters in Dallas realize that just yet. Once they figure it out, watch us throw -700's into the ETOPS mix and doing what Aloha did back in the day flying interisland. But unlike Aloha, which was poorly run, undercapitalized, debt-laden, flying the old clacked out -200's interisland, and having that market be literally the bulk of its existence, Southwest is a vastly different animal.



I think Hawaiian's strengths are actually in the long haul flying and I think focusing on that will keep Hawaiian going strong. If Hawaiian decided to go toe-to-toe with Southwest, that'd be a BAD, BAD, BAD move.

Originally Posted by e6bpilot (Post 2775545)

I agree with this completely. There is only so much you can do in a 737. HAL does so much well that SWA cannot even begin to do.

I work for SWA and I think HAL has nothing to lose in this venture at all. Think ahead...way ahead. You guys are flying further and further and have 787s on the horizon. No way swa can compete with that worldwide reach.

Originally Posted by domino (Post 2774614)

Southwest will do to Hawaiian what NAI is doing to the transatlantic market. Legacies are pulling out of many European markets

Originally Posted by at6d (Post 2775693)

That’s why HAL would be a target for acquisition.

Originally Posted by e6bpilot (Post 2775820)

I know this is a popular opinion among many of our fellow SWA pilots turned cockpit CEOs who think that we are going to destroy everyone who flies to Hawaii. I do not believe it is true for many of my own cockpit CEO reasons.
I liken it to the mafia, or maybe the SWA/Delta detente in ATL/LAX. When everyone is making money, why screw it up? The things that make Hawaiian great cannot be done by Southwest in its current form (see our sad attempt at big boy international in Mexico City). They also go so far against the way SWA operates that there is zero chance that our current crop of managers would ever buy off on merging the two companies.

Originally Posted by WHACKMASTER (Post 2775881)

Bingo. Unfortunately this is totally true. The mindset in Dallas is that we’re going to continue to grow with the B737 and ONLY the B737 and not expand past near international destinations. The execs at the top of the pyramid have this mindset. The only one that’s chomping at the bit to get bigger airplanes and expand to further destinations is EVP CRO Andrew Watterson (former route planning guy for Hawaiian coincidentally). He’s been vocal about that in the past and has also stated that the higher ups have no interest in it, but that “They won’t be around forever”.

Originally Posted by RJSAviator76 (Post 2775885)

Isn’t Tom Nealon also pro-bigger plane?

Originally Posted by e6bpilot (Post 2775820)

I know this is a popular opinion among many of our fellow SWA pilots turned cockpit CEOs who think that we are going to destroy everyone who flies to Hawaii. I do not believe it is true for many of my own cockpit CEO reasons.
I liken it to the mafia, or maybe the SWA/Delta detente in ATL/LAX. When everyone is making money, why screw it up? The things that make Hawaiian great cannot be done by Southwest in its current form (see our sad attempt at big boy international in Mexico City). They also go so far against the way SWA operates that there is zero chance that our current crop of managers would ever buy off on merging the two companies.

Originally Posted by at6d (Post 2776049)

Wow brother. Don’t project your stuff on to me. I’m not your CEO/mafia whipping boy, or ETOPS flag waver either. My name ain’t on that list.



It would make more sense to me to view Hawaiian as an acquisition than to dive into the current Alaska/Virgin debacle.



Don’t forget that airlines also become major shareholders in other carriers without a full purchase.



We are all just spitballing here. I’m the guy that doesn’t believe most airline speculation until the gear is in the well and I’m in the seat.

Originally Posted by sailingfun (Post 2774548)

Teaser intro fares. SWA can’t make money at those fare levels using 737’s.