Airline Pilot Central Forums - Southwest to buy AirTran Airways

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Quote:

Originally Posted by BigGuns (Post 876720)

Right.... They didn't defend the hubs as much as they just had crappy hubs no one wanted to come into.... Makes for an easy defense!

Works for me. They were and still do make money. They make more with LUV contained. NWA used to say Detroit (Detoilet) is a toilet, but....it's OUR toilet. They don't call DTW and MSP fortress hubs because of the architecture.;)

Mods,

Please move this thread to "Delta Latest and Greatest", where it belongs...

:D

Quote:

Originally Posted by JDFlyer (Post 876712)

Lots going on this morning. I am just thinking out loud with this post, so no flames please:

1) Is it possible that since this is a stock purchase, SWA will keep AirTran separate instead of integrating the companies/seniority lists? In other words, separate brand name, separate employee groups, separate reservation systems, etc? (i.e. Skywest recently purchased ASA and then ExpressJet via stock purchase. ASA and XJET will be integrated, but Skywest will, for now, remain separate.) Given SWAs pilot scope agreement, I would predict that an integration WILL in fact occur. But I wanted to ask the question anyway.

2) This one primarily for any SWA pilot reading this, AirTran and Skywest have a regional feed/sub-contract/out-source/etc. agreement. I know, as an ORD based Skywest Captain, I fly AirTran feeder routes on a regular basis. Our Skywest aircraft that we operate in the AirTran system are painted in Skywest colors, NOT AirTran colors.

SWA scope is perhaps one of the greatest union/management agreements in the history of commercial aviation. I wonder how SWA pilots will view the AirTran/Skywest agreement?

3) Contrary to what may be developing into a popular opinion on this thread about this announcement being really bad for SWA poolies, I am going to go against that opinion and say that I think this will be good for SWA poolies.

That is what my Magic 8 ball said when I asked it just now. :D

Hopefully this will answer you questions.

1)SWAPA's contract requires that any airline owned by SWA be integrated within 2 years of the acquisition. In the PR SWA announced that all operations will be merged within 2 years, so it looks like they are following the contract.

2)Since the SWAPA contract states that there will be no domestic regional codeshare then SWA has 2 years to end the AirTran/Skywest agreement.

3)SWA announced that they will hire 150 pilots due to increased flights for March and April of 2011. Other than that I don't see how this merger will help the poolies as it won't help the junior pilots at SWA.

SWA, and DAL, two class outfits,fortune has smiled on all who grace their cockpits, Godspeed them both, but since my wife is a SWA pilot I am hoping that LUV conquers all !!! being realistic and not jingoistic, both lines shall prosper in the long term,competition is a healthy thing.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeadHead (Post 876800)

Better then being called Airtranny.

Its Air TranZ.

Quote:

Originally Posted by igbyjet (Post 876796)

I have my application in at Air Tran. Anybody have an idea of what may happen with the guys and gals hired in the last couple of weeks and the ones who were hoping to get hired?

The competitive minimums just jumped probably 500%. Or the SWA poolies will get preferential interviews or hiring at Airtran.

Here is how i see it.

1. SWA can pump more flights perday out of ATL than AAI because of their quick-turn philosophy.

2. This deal will take at least 6 months to clear the regulatory hurdles so nothing will happen overnight.

3. SWA will finally get some intl flying though to the not so great South, Central America and Caribbean. 73's can't make ATL to Europe.

4. MAYBE we should not be afraid of the 1000 lb. "discount" gorilla and look to codeshare out of ATL or SLC for intl feed. Take advantage of their obvious huge customer base.

5. Tix ATL-ORL or DC area will be like $39 each way so no one will make $$ on those routes.

6. Our big $$ customers (medallion) like first class cabins/upgrades.

7. Is Alaska Airlines back on the table for DAL to buy?

It will be interesting to see how thins unfolds. I am a DAL guy and I will admit I was initially worried when I heard this this am but now I see it as a opportunity for us to refocus on the customer. LUV has vulnerabilities. DAL and others just need to find and exploit them.

maybe this is the writing on the wall for DAL to move in and buy Alaska

I haven't seen anybody say that SWA/AirTran would have an easy time expanding, only that there are aggressive plans to do so. Delta isn't going out of business next year, and neither is SWA.

AS has never been off the table.

We already compete with AAI on many of our Caribbean destinations

Consolidation is good for all.

Gary Kelly stated that DFW will end. Not good for commuters but quite a few gates just freed up in DFW, and coincidentally they are right next to DAL's.

LUV coming to ATL is good for both companies. I suspect that this will drive a few more decisions that have been waiting for another domino to fall.