Because its a scope violation.

I think a 30-some fleet of an orphaned type will be a sufficiently small number for SWA to simply turn off the lights on the remainder of the ATN operation come Jan 2015. The remaining 300ish ATN pilots will enjoy a paid vacation while waiting for a class date in Dallas.

This is my personal belief also.

It's not just the remaining 717s. There will 737s after 1/1/15.

The impetus is gone. Now that the code-share is in place and SWA has gotten a taste of the $ to be made with bag fees and business-class in and out of the Florida/Caribbean market they aren't in a hurry.

There is no way this management group will park even one revenue generating airplane. 30? Not a chance in h#ll.

Okay, so maybe we can disagree on the exact number, but do you not agree that at some fleet size the benefits of maintaining a separate ATN operation begin to outweigh the costs? I happen to believe that could be around 30 airplanes. As for the 737s, I haven't heard anything lately indicating there will still be any on the ATN side come 2015. With the international quals for the SWA side wrapping up soon, there's even less reason to keep any 737s ATN green. Adding more Mx lines for converting the ATN 737s is not a limitation, from what I have heard.

Then there's still the matter of that clause in our contract that requires the transition to be completed by Jan 2015....

P.S. Look for the bag fees to magically appear on SWA flights a few months after the new res system goes online next year (my prediction).

Grieve it...

Smoky,

I hope you are right. I'd just like all of this to be over now. Not two more years from now.

But...but...don't bags fly free? /head exploding

They do for now, but I doubt they will forever. It was a worthwhile experiment, and as one who HATES to get nickled & dimed, I hoped it would succeed. But the market has spoken and the consumer will get the unbundled travel experience they deserve....even on SWA, eventually. Considering that ancillary fees are virtually the ONLY thing that keeps you and most other Legacy carriers afloat, just imagine what kind of financials SWA will be able to turn in when they DO start charging fees! :D

DL is going to clear above 2 billion in profit this year. Do you honestly think that's all ancillary fees?