As long as Gary Kelly is at the helm, Hawaii is about as exciting as it will get. You are talking about a company that cannot take foreign currency as payment. Seriously.
Everyone here has all these big ideas about 787s and being a real airline. It just ain’t happening.
In around 5 years when the big push to update our Apollo era tech is complete, then maybe this airline will take some big steps. Of course, by then we will be in a full blown recession.

 

My money on the EASA ban is that it’s political as you eluded to. Somewhere I read China offered to recertify the MAX immediately if the FAA certified the Comac C919, but I can’t find the article.

 

Maybe United is getting the -700s from Southwest?

Maybe Southwest is selling them to help finance the purchase of Frontier or other A320 operator?

 

LOL... I don’t think think this place would sell aircraft to finance a sale.

 

That seems like three steps down the road....if it were true.

So your contention is that SWA has already decided they are buying Frontier, negotiated with Boeing and UAL to sell off 700's, and somehow the only news that is publicly acknowledged is UAL agreeing to buy some used 700's?

 

🙄






...

 

If we are selling 700’s, they are rung the **** out.

 

We started a 321 program years before the first one arrived, and we already had Airbus's in our fleet.. For the 787, we have guys getting trained and managers managing already and the a/c doesn't arrive until late 2021...

SWA has never flown anything but a 737, so I'd guess very few on your sen. list with much Airbus experience.

It also took SWA over a year to get ETOPS certified..

I'd say it'll take more than a year to get a new fleet program up and running.. Especially being a whole different way of doing things. If SWA started today, it wouldn't be flying before July 20, 2020


Cue SMFlyer offering the jumpseat...………...…...……………... again..

 

Regarding SWA pilots with Airbus experience, there are probably more than you might imagine. I have flown with several and also others with 75/76 experience, often years of it. So there is a suprising variety of different experience at SWA. Those who have flown Airbus aircraft report positive experiences with it.

I was hired 2 1/2 years ago and have been quite surprised on the ambivalence of most pilots towards the 737s. Most regard it as a tool but an unlovable one. Many folks I fly with, often with years of experience, speak of the type with disdain rather than the glowing reports I had expected. Most seem to like the performance but other than that don't love it.

So I think there would be enthusiasm for a new type among many SWA crew members.

As to your time frame of a year to get it up and running, I think that would be wildly optimistic. If they went to Airbus and signed an agreement for, say, 100 A320s, I'd be surprised to see them in revenue service in less than 18 months even with full support from Airbus and if there weren't issues getting into the delivery slots already secured by other carriers. I think getting a full program up to speed would take a long time.

 

Don’t worry, we’ll just crush you with our wallet, send your aircraft to Delta, and keep you around so you’ll also have the honor of being a 737 whiz.