SWA to buy Air Tran?
 

OK, I need a little rumor control out there. Does anyone have info about SWA to outright buy Air Tran? I admit to not knowing all the buyout/takeover history in the past. Anyone heard this one?

Ist this rumor coming out of SWA or AT?

Both..........

Its just one of a dozen rumors I've heard at WN over the past couple of months. I do think the tea leaves say that our management is up to something significant,.....(management under pressure from investors to do something about return on capital and stock appreciation, company taking on more debt, buying back stock, strong cash reserves, no announced plans for a followon aircraft to the 737 , lots of computer work ongoing in DAL to facilitate international ops,training center expansion, changes in key leadership positions within the company over the past year or so ).....something is up..... but whether it involves Airtran or another carrier is anyone's guess. Maybe we are going to announce a 787 order. One thing is certain, if we are buying another carrier we will read about it in the Investor's Business Daily before line pilots find out. Believe it when you see it.

This is an old rumor. I think Southwest will try to expand their international ops through ATA, and go in that direction. Domestic yield is just to depressed. Why would they want AT other than to compete with Delta? International ops is the future until more airlines fold during the next down turn and all the legacies pick a dancing partner.

Tom

This rumor was from an outside source with a low confidence level. I just thought I'd throw it out there just in case. I'm in the pool and am looking at late Winter/Spring class start so I was curious if anyone had info. I've heard the int'l rumor for over 10 months now so my guess is a higher probability. Thanks...

Well, current AAI market cap is 873.14M and controlling interest in the company would be ALOT less.... in addition to gaining access to ATL and gaining gates at the new South Terminal (possible 2010) and utilizing ATA on international routes....well THAT WOULD BE IMPRESSIVE!

I had heard a rumor they were interested in NK because of their Caribbean, central and south America routes; Probably just a rumor?

It would be easy to buy a 36'ish plane operation just for their routes though????

I like the new Spirit livery.

I asked this SWA & TRS rumor a few weeks ago..relayed from some of my pals at Air Tran.

FF

WestJet maybe? Small, all 737, gets SWA into Canada, Mexico, Carribean. Don't know how buying foreign companies goes though.