Not only the $4B Cash, but all the real estate/slots, BOS, JFK/T5&T6, FLL, MCO (new terminal), Caribbean SJU, Europe Slots in LHR, CDG, AMS, MAD, etc. etc.

In my opinion, the real question for WN and B6 is; do they want to change their business model to compete with DL/UA/AA??

Do they want to go after Premium Customers, Lounges, First Class, which all leads to big Credit Card and Loyalty $$$, One World or some other alliance.

OR do they want stick with LCC/Niche model. If the answer is to change their business model to compete with Big 3, then IMO it’s good for both WN/B6.

But, just a humble opinion.

 

I suppose it would have been a done deal if we didn’t have the leadership challenges. Now, we have a board that wants to get the house cleaning complete before we take on something that we’re, sadly, incapable of executing. We’ll be prepared for it after the ideal season has passed for m&a. You know, kinda like we’re doing with the “premium” services. Too little, too late. I think we needed a shakeup years ago and we might have been prepared for this moment.

 

Exactly. Not to mention the new SWA “premium service “ is going to be an utter joke. Let’s get some new seats (that are probably just as thin and uncomfortable), reduce pitch in 2/3rds of the plane to increase pitch in the front 1/3rd, keep the same 3+3 abreast, and not offer any additional food items.

SWA premium seating! The clown show continues.

 

Just wait and see Emirates will envious of our cabins !!!! We are going to take on the world with this premium seating and excellent service from our FA’s.

 

 

How is it that every pilot knows our FAs are next-level harassers of the traveling public but it isn’t showing up in customer survey numbers? This doesn’t make sense to me and I’m choosing to disbelieve the company on this. The same way that I chose to disbelieve them when they said customer surveys show a preference for open seating which I knew couldn’t be true…as soon as Elliott showed up, we found out the truth.

 

JetBlue currently has about 12 airframes parked with the Pratt & Whitney PW1100G-JM engines.
The latest turn around time for these engines is currently 1 year. JetBlue said next year they will have high teen number of aircraft parked for the engine issue.
IMO, I doubt Southwest would want to merge with them with the engine problems on the A321 and A220.

 

…737MAX enters the chat…

 

Just to clarify; between now and next year JetBlue has up to the high teens (total in that given period) affected by P&W. 2026 is the projected get well/healthy year, and then they also have deferred deliveries available. Basically no growth mode for a couple years except for increased ASMs due to retirement of E190 and delivery of A220s.

To sum that up for a WN/B6 scenario - B6 would be healthy (engine wise) by the time any Merger or single operating certificate were to be finalized (hypothetically).

Just sayin, back to my forum now, sorry to interrupt.

 

Well, it's about time! I say buy BOTH JB and Breeze (make Dave Neeleman really happy!) and double down on the A220 for future fleet growth - including forcing Airbus to finally build the proposed stretched A220 (the A220-500). The economics on the proposed A220-500 would be unmatched in that seat category - better ASM than both the A320 NEO and the 737 MAX 7 & 8. The merged airline should be the launch customer for the stretched version. It sounds like Airbus has been working hard to improve the supply chain issues associated with the A220.

Buying both JB and Breeze will immediately reduce fleet risk related to Boeing and it would provide more gate access to critical business centers like JFK & BOS. I assume the SWA board wants to add more high-margin business travelers to the SWA passenger mix, and JB would provide access to more business-focused markets. Buying Breeze would take out a low-cost competitor and provide immediate access to a desirable fleet type that SWA already knows well after it's evaluation of the A220. And logically, future combined fleet should focus on scaling the A220 (300/500), A321 NEO and B737 MAX (if certified & available) fleets over time.

So, those are my initial thoughts - fingers crossed that we see some strategic moves like this soon! And your lower backs will thank me once you move out of the B737 with those awful cockpit seats!