Airtran?

[Scarabus]

Anyone know how stable airtran is these days. Was going to try for an interview but not sure I should even try for a few months. I still have a job and my paychecks don't bounce. Yet!

 

[PCL_128]

Probably about as stable as you can find in this industry nowadays. We'll probably post a loss for the first quarter and for the year, but I'm not worried about the company disappearing. If oil climbs up to $125/bbl, you can probably expect furloughs, though.

 

[IdRtherBsailing]

Do you know how many pilots are on the street now? I would apply, talk to folks, get an interview, and then make your decision. No one is recession proof but I think AirTran will be fine, or at least in a better position than most others.

 

[captain dad]

I don't wish anyone ill will, but did you happen to see the massive sell off of stock on Friday afternoon? I am just glad it bounced a little before the close. Monday morning will be interesting.

The whole airline industry is back in survival mode...again. They all have thrown out the proverbial anchor, stopped training and start talking consolidation. If I was about to jump ship to go anywhere voluntarily right now,....wait a minute, I wouldn't do that. At least not voluntarily.

Wish everyone the best.

 

[PCL_128]

You should do a search for press releases and articles related to the stock dip on Friday. It was nothing but alarmism by speculators that was completely unwarranted. In after-hours trading, the stock rebounded and made up most its losses. On Monday you can expect it to rebound the rest of the way. We've actually added to our cash position during the quarter and will continue adding to it throughout the second quarter, according to the latest data released.

 

[Fly4$]

Just curious how AT was able to improve their cash position in the first quarter. Were they able to make make money with 110 dollar oil or did they raise money somewhere else?

 

[CitationLover]

Just curious how AT was able to improve their cash position in the first quarter. Were they able to make make money with 110 dollar oil or did they raise money somewhere else?

they made money on the aircraft deals they have made. i have no clue if they receive cash, line of credit, or dole out financing for them. i would imagine operationally they are close to breaking even.

 

[PCL_128]

Just curious how AT was able to improve their cash position in the first quarter. Were they able to make make money with 110 dollar oil or did they raise money somewhere else?

That's a good question. Details won't be available until the earnings call later this month. All we know right now is that the cash position has increased and is expected to continue increasing in the 2nd quarter. As for the aircraft sales, I'm not sure that those have even been finalized yet. They might not appear on the balance sheet until the 2nd quarter.

 

[Eagle757shark]

Looking at reports here in Atlanta today Sunday April 13, 2008, the Delta and Northwest merger may be announced in the next 48 hours. Again according to news reports here. If the merger between Delta and Northwest are announced in the next 48 hours, everything will change in this industry. The consolidation bug will have begun and everyone including AirTran will be looking for dance partners. I believe this will be the most interesting week for all of us in the airline industry if these reports are accurate.

But to answer your initial question, with fuel at $110 dollars a barrel, every airline is on shaky ground. EDUCATE yourself, every night the news on all levels has been talking about the airline industry. Do any of us on this board know what will happen........NO!

 

[FlyWolf]

I think you should stay where you at for now, sitting at the bottom of ANY airline's seniority list is not a good idea right now.

Eagle, I read that report, I wonder what will happen to Midwest, I agree with you it will be an interesting week ahead.

 

[CitationLover]

....sitting at the bottom of ANY airline's seniority list is not a good idea right now.

Now you tell me.......

 

[metroplex]

If a company is stable, no investor in the world will be concerned. If Airtran has to make a public statement about its liquidity, something severe must have triggered that, and not because some other airline filled for cahpter 11. I have not heard Southwest to make a statement. And to show more cash on hand is very easy, without making a penny. do the research....and 350 million $ or what ever it is, is absolute nothing for an airline the size of AT. And the debt load they have , good luck

 

[PCL_128]

Actually, $350 million is decent for an airline our size. 10% of revenue is acceptable, 20% is very good, and 30% is practically impossible. We're currently at around 14-16% with a growing cash balance.

 

[Secret Squirrel]

SWA has almost 30% BUT that was one of the reasons their stock was down. Investors thought they could use that money to grow faster or buy someone or something. But SWA has always been very conservative.

 

[PCL_128]

Skywest had the same problem before they bought ASA. Shareholders don't like to see that much money laying around instead of being put to good use.

 

[scarlet]

With DL/NW merge, I see MEM and CVG going away..
MKE with Midwest going away too.....

I think Airtran will step up for some of those 717s and go more into MKE and what routes DL/NW scale back on...

As will SW and Jetblue

 

[CitationLover]

With DL/NW merge, I see MEM and CVG going away..
MKE with Midwest going away too.....

I think Airtran will step up for some of those 717s and go more into MKE and what routes DL/NW scale back on...

As will SW and Jetblue

just following your phenomenal logic here......


NWA ponies up $250 million to keep AAI out of MKE. they will then turn around and get rid of midwest and simply allow the leasing company to release the a/c to AAI and give them MKE market share?

ok.

 

[IdRtherBsailing]

Do you know how many pilots are on the street now? I would apply, talk to folks, get an interview, and then make your decision. No one is recession proof but I think AirTran will be fine, or at least in a better position than most others.

Everyone is right. I retract the above statement. Stay where you are for now.

 

[27 driver]

Anyone know how stable airtran is these days. Was going to try for an interview but not sure I should even try for a few months. I still have a job and my paychecks don't bounce. Yet!

Dude,
Go interview. You have nothing to lose by interviewing. If they offer you a job you can elect to go into a pool for up to 6 months. If you decide later not to go, you have lost nothing. At least give yourself the option. Just my .02

 

[GOULET!]

Don't think they are even interviewing right now. The April 7th class is supposedly the last class until further notice. There were 20 newhires. I know there was another class in April, June, and July that were virtually full already and have since been cancelled. Hopefully they will start up hiring again though! Good luck!

 

[captain dad]

Stock at $5.40 and holding with high volume. Up 30%. I hope it holds.

I would never give up a chance to interview anywhere. It's cool to see how operations work from the inside. Many times it is the closest look you will ever get at an airlines inner workings. It's a great experience and you can always say no.

I haven't interviewed lately, but a couple years ago I interviewed at five airlines Two majors, Two Fracs, and one regional. I accepted at NJA. Thank GOD, this place rocks! I wouldn't have known, what any of them were really like, if I hadn't interviewed. Turns out, looking back, that everything turned out the best for everyone and I am very happy.

I say saturate the industry with apps and resumes. Interview everywhere for the practice and take the best gig offered at the time then pray. Hopefully, it will all work out in the end. Luckily it did for me. I was very fortunate and don't see myself leaving...ever! Knock on wood.

 

[Wesb737fo]

Anyone know how stable airtran is these days. Was going to try for an interview but not sure I should even try for a few months. I still have a job and my paychecks don't bounce. Yet!

Just me ...but.... If you are thinking about leaving your present job, I wouldn't (unless you work for Mesa).

If your present job isn't a place you want call a career (lol....at all of us), then throw your application in to whatever airlines are accepting them.

My guess is it will take some time before there is a change in the current economic environment. If this downturn thing is short term then I'm also guessing AirTran will resume classes in the fall. But what do I know, I left a lucrative career to become an airline pilot.

 

[JetFumes]

Hey man, I have an idea......lets put out a report that AirTran may have some issues with credit card companies widthholding funds and that it may put the company in a bind. Then we can short the stock and make a killing......BRILLIANT!


Then everyone will find out that the company is actually in good shape when we tell our friend,...the analyst, to upgrade the company and we will make a killing on the upside...........BRILLIANT!

THIS is how to make money in aviation!

 

[Max Powers]

Spend spend spend most investors are like those little boys that have money in their pocket they have to do something with it.

 

[flying zephyr]

Can someone please confirm that they did run the April 7 class as planned... I would appreciate it. God help us all.

 

[maxblast72]

Actually, $350 million is decent for an airline our size. 10% of revenue is acceptable, 20% is very good, and 30% is practically impossible. We're currently at around 14-16% with a growing cash balance.

I don't know if 30% is practically impossible. When I hired on at Airtran in 2004, we were about a $1 Billion/year company with about $400 million in the bank (40% cash to revenue). Our balance sheet has definitely been going backwards since then. But with our cost structure, I think we will ride this downturn as well as anyone since we have a very strong Atlanta hub.

I think some of growing cash position is the gaining back of some pre-delivery aircraft deposit money also.

 

[GOULET!]

Can someone please confirm that they did run the April 7 class as planned... I would appreciate it. God help us all.

Yes they did run the April 7th class. There were 15 737 slots and 5 717 slots. Probably the last class for quite a while if the current conditions continue.

 

[bleagle]

just following your phenomenal logic here......


NWA ponies up $250 million to keep AAI out of MKE. they will then turn around and get rid of midwest and simply allow the leasing company to release the a/c to AAI and give them MKE market share?

ok.

Well, since DAL AND NWA serve MKE as well as NWA holding a controlling interest in a MKE based company AND now that the two companies have merged.... this may have a hard time passing thru the DOJ as far as anti.trust is concerned... cost of doing "merger" business.

....good ole DOJ...can't get TOO big in any industry in our country.

 

[Lowrider717]

Yes they did run the April 7th class. There were 15 737 slots and 5 717 slots. Probably the last class for quite a while if the current conditions continue.

The last class for a while? You must think they are just going to park the aircraft on order. (or sell them), or we have plenty of Pilots on the roster to fly them now.

 

[hockeypilot44]

Well, since DAL AND NWA serve MKE as well as NWA holding a controlling interest in a MKE based company AND now that the two companies have merged.... this may have a hard time passing thru the DOJ as far as anti.trust is concerned... cost of doing "merger" business.

....good ole DOJ...can't get TOO big in any industry in our country.

Unless you're an oil company, then the sky's the limit.