Gman

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/19208165/

Well, who should they buy? Jetblue to avoid Delta buying them?
Spirit or Frontier? AirTran to stick with the B-737 fleet?

Another Morris style 'merger' with the pilot group stapled to the bottom?

757Driver

Maybe they'll pull an AA/Air Cal or UsAir/PSA type buy-out. Purchase the airline then shut down the whole operation. Staple all the JB boys to the bottom, start to furlough and call it a day.

OldAg84

How about ATA? Or are they seeing the benefits without the hassles already?

All the "decent to good fits" from corporate culture, customer base, and geographic coverage standpoints all appear to be Airbus operators- Frontier, JetBlue, maybe on the very far outside Spirit (although I'm not seeing it).

Is the challenge that WN can't grow organically alone at its historical rate using it's current (and past) business model? There don't seem to be too many cities/airports left that easily fit the WN model. Assuming that's true- what markets are available or do they adapt?

Just some thinking/talking points.

Bear in mind- I'm not an airline employee AND Southwest is one of my favorite carriers.

LuvJockey

I think they're looking at a lot of companies. JBLU, Frontier, WestJet, AirTran, ATA, and even Alaska. I have no idea what that would spell as far as seniority issues. Historically, if acquired by SWA, pilots have been stapled.

ITSALLGOOD

F9 has got to be the front runner. They would be cheap (current Mkt CAP just 219 million, although the price would probably be double that). SWA could buy them with just one year's worth of profit. They would get all the F9 gates and routes out of DEN. They could easily sell the 50ish A319/318s and get half their money back. SWA is already preparing their system for international travel and would get all the Mexico, Canada, and Carribean routes F9 flys. Biggest advantage would be they would be the only LCC with any big presence in a huge market. SWA would own pricing in DEN. They would be far too big for UAL to try and under cut them. A SWA staple job may or may not be good for an F9 guy depending on your situation.

Jet Blue is a long shot. Too many airplanes to unload (SWA will never fly Airbus unless it is temporary while they replace them with 737s) and they want no part of JFK. Far too crowded.

HalinTexas

I think they will go after a carrier with significant international presence, and not just North America.

With all of the airplanes they have coming, why buy into more domestic capacity? ROI, revenue, and market share that they don't already have is what they'll be looking for.

coyote

Another Morris style 'merger' with the pilot group stapled to the bottom?[/QUOTE]

I don't recall the Morris pilots being offered any more than interviews with SWA. Does anyone know how many were actually hired?

greedyairlineexec

most morris air were hired,and the fo's where given time to go get their types.

2Lazy

If someone could help me out, why would someone like Frontier or Jet blue who is making money want to sell out for a one time price, or does it work differently. I know MONEY is the answer, but I think of Frontier as a very competitive airline with a very bright future, so why sell out if you can make more money in the long run doing your own thing?

Sr. Barco

It is my understanding that all Morris pilots were hired by Southwest and they were not required to get the type. They were stapled and they were all pay protected. For example a former Morris captain was paid the equivalent trip rate they were getting when they were flying as a captain. That's what the Morris guys have told me when I used to fly with them. Maybe I misunderstood them. Can anyone clarify?


S.B.