Airtran's cash position dwindling quickly!

[BR715]

We lost 118 million for the fourth quarter. Down to 340 million in cash. One more quarter like this and I think we might have to go into bankruptcy! Discuss.

 

[Mongolikecandy]

We lost 118 million for the fourth quarter. Down to 340 million in cash. One more quarter like this and I think we might have to go into bankruptcy! Discuss.

Read the release... most cash on hand since 2005. I wouldn't worry just yet. Plus, we had an operating income of almost $55 million in the 4th Quarter. Yes, I know, there was a huge hit on bad hedges but we aren't the only ones who got bit on the ass for that. Things could be much worse.

 

[Secret Squirrel]

Highest year end cash position Airtran has ever had. Plus it was a 55ish million dollar operating Profit, the highest ever, with a one time charge for unwinding fuel hedges resulting in a loss. I am sure it is enough for big BOB to take a 5 million dollar bonus and tell us we can't have a contract.

 

[Colonel Savage]

Stock opened up 5%.

 

[crj567]

The sky's the limit!!! Keep right on whistling by the graveyard....

-The reason they have a lot of cash is because the credit card people were about to pull a "Frontier" on them, and increase their holdback.... Airtran had no choice but to start stacking bucks-they did so by selling planes and other vital assets which restrict growth opportunities. I am sure AirTran would like to be taking advantage of places the big "D"" is pulling back in.

No one is safe in this economy-Obama will only make it far worse.

 

[Eagle757shark]

The sky's the limit!!! Keep right on whistling by the graveyard....

-The reason they have a lot of cash is because the credit card people were about to pull a "Frontier" on them, and increase their holdback.... Airtran had no choice but to start stacking bucks-they did so by selling planes and other vital assets which restrict growth opportunities. I am sure AirTran would like to be taking advantage of places the big "D"" is pulling back in.

No one is safe in this economy-Obama will only make it far worse.

Hey you idiot the man has only been in office one week. He didn't put this country in a recession. Fuel didn't go to a all time high under his watch. Foreclosures at a all time high didn't come about under his watch. Airlines didn't go into bankruptcy under his watch (Delta, US Airways, United, ATA, Frontier, Northwest, Aloha, Independence Air, Skybus, Champion).
I do know that under the previous administration we watched our industry get beat down. Pilots lost their pensions, labor contracts have been destroyed, and the National Mediation Board has used the previous administration guidelines to prevent managements from negotiating labor contracts fairly by stalling and finding loop holes against labor.

PLEASE don't make this a political topic. This countries ECONOMY has gone to HELL in the last eight years! Any airline pilot here who hasn't felt it is being very naive. You may not like who the next president is, but he is the president! He has a monumental task to turn this countries economy around and he needs the support of the american people. The problems with this economy stem from GREED and SELFISHNESS! Look at that piece of trash that gave millions of dollars in bonus' to Merrill Lynch executives, then had the nerve to ask us the tax payers to bail his ass out! Back in 2002 Stephen Wolf and his executives asked the government for a bailout through the ATSB Loans and then walked away with 35 million dollars. US Airways went into bankruptcy and the pilots lost their pensions.

Things will probable get a little worse before they get better. But at least we didn't hear that the economy was sound for a whole year before the previous administration would admit that we were in a recession. Don't make this about our president, it's about your damn CEO's that are stealing from the american people and the hard workers of this country! Now, back to my breakfast!!!!

 

[ACL65PILOT]

AAI was down to 317 million a few quarter ago. With fuel where it is at, they should be fine in the short turn.

Everyone is burning though cash. I do not have the number in front of me but most of the majors went though about a billion each last quarter. Now of course you need to look where it went, but the fact is that everyone is burning cash.

 

[atldc9]

The sky's the limit!!! Keep right on whistling by the graveyard....

-The reason they have a lot of cash is because the credit card people were about to pull a "Frontier" on them, and increase their holdback.... Airtran had no choice but to start stacking bucks-they did so by selling planes and other vital assets which restrict growth opportunities. I am sure AirTran would like to be taking advantage of places the big "D"" is pulling back in.

No one is safe in this economy-Obama will only make it far worse.

Actually, the CEO told an interviewer last week that the creditcard holdback was up to 50%. The cash reported on hand at the end of the year, $340 million, is unrestricted cash. AirTran did not give out the amount that is being heldback, although they did mention that they had $30 million tied up in fuel hedge collateral.

What do I know, I thought it looked pretty bad, but the stock is up 10%.

 

[Lampshade]

PLEASE don't make this a political topic.

Do you realize that you went on for three paragraphs about politics. :smash:

 

[RIDETHELIGHTING]

oh no!! the sky is falling!!

 

[Mamma]

So its OK for you to call names and point fingers. Hmmmm. The economy, to the best of my memory was pretty damn hot most of Bush's tenure. It went in the toilet over the last year and a half or so of his tenure. Did the Democrat majority have anything to do with it? Barney Frank and Chris Dodd and the sub-prime policies? Where were the Dems helping us out? I am not trying to make this partisan but I am tired of mindless lemmings like you pointing blame in only one direction. Do you run around in life with bliders on? Let me give you a little clue....they are ALL corrupt bastards. Focusing your finger in only one direction allows all the rest of the dirty corrupt bastards to get away.

Hey you idiot the man has only been in office one week. He didn't put this country in a recession. Fuel didn't go to a all time high under his watch. Foreclosures at a all time high didn't come about under his watch. Airlines didn't go into bankruptcy under his watch (Delta, US Airways, United, ATA, Frontier, Northwest, Aloha, Independence Air, Skybus, Champion).
I do know that under the previous administration we watched our industry get beat down. Pilots lost their pensions, labor contracts have been destroyed, and the National Mediation Board has used the previous administration guidelines to prevent managements from negotiating labor contracts fairly by stalling and finding loop holes against labor.

PLEASE don't make this a political topic. This countries ECONOMY has gone to HELL in the last eight years! Any airline pilot here who hasn't felt it is being very naive. You may not like who the next president is, but he is the president! He has a monumental task to turn this countries economy around and he needs the support of the american people. The problems with this economy stem from GREED and SELFISHNESS! Look at that piece of trash that gave millions of dollars in bonus' to Merrill Lynch executives, then had the nerve to ask us the tax payers to bail his ass out! Back in 2002 Stephen Wolf and his executives asked the government for a bailout through the ATSB Loans and then walked away with 35 million dollars. US Airways went into bankruptcy and the pilots lost their pensions.

Things will probable get a little worse before they get better. But at least we didn't hear that the economy was sound for a whole year before the previous administration would admit that we were in a recession. Don't make this about our president, it's about your damn CEO's that are stealing from the american people and the hard workers of this country! Now, back to my breakfast!!!!

 

[180ToTheMarker]

Let me give you a little clue....they are ALL corrupt bastards. Focusing your finger in only one direction allows all the rest of the dirty corrupt bastards to get away.

Good post...the downward spiral of the economy (along with ungodly gas prices) started soon after the dems took over congress.

 

[realmanofgenius]

I thought MBAs were taught how to figure all this out.

they need to borrow a play from George Castanza's playbook:

when ever you think of doing somehting, decide to do the exact 180 degree opposite thing. It worked for George.

 

[Eagle757shark]

So its OK for you to call names and point fingers. Hmmmm. The economy, to the best of my memory was pretty damn hot most of Bush's tenure. It went in the toilet over the last year and a half or so of his tenure. Did the Democrat majority have anything to do with it? Barney Frank and Chris Dodd and the sub-prime policies? Where were the Dems helping us out? I am not trying to make this partisan but I am tired of mindless lemmings like you pointing blame in only one direction. Do you run around in life with bliders on? Let me give you a little clue....they are ALL corrupt bastards. Focusing your finger in only one direction allows all the rest of the dirty corrupt bastards to get away.

I for one do not walk around with BLINDERS! The comment the poster made was that the current president was going to make it worse. That is a IGNORANT statement regardless of what political party you are affliated. He has only been in office one week. So we don't know what is going to happen. Give the man a chance. That is all I was saying. Because you don't like the man is your problem if that is what you are getting at. He is the current president. Give him a chance to try and fix the problem.
I don't need a clue from you, I'm well aware of what is going on right now!

 

[Mamma]

My apologies. From what you wrote previously it seemed you had no idea what was going on and that you were completely ignorant of what went on over the last eight years. In fact, you called anyone who did not agree with you "naive." But, since you say you don't need a clue, I retract the one I gave you. My mistake.

I don't need a clue from you. I'm well aware of what is going on right now!

 

[Eagle757shark]

My apologies. From what you wrote previously it seemed you had no idea what was going on and that you were completely ignorant of what went on over the last eight years. In fact, you called anyone who did not agree with you "naive." But, since you say you don't need a clue, I retract the one I gave you. My mistake.

Now who is walking around BLIND? My comment was "This countries Economy has gone to hell in the last eight years. Any airline pilot here who hasn't felt it is being very naive." (Look what has happened to the airline pilot contracts over the last eight years!) I was not saying this because you didn't agree with me. I was stating what is a fact: We are in a recession! Because you don't like it, so! Who was the president when it occured? The point was the current president inherited a recession and needs time to try and fix it. We will see in four years what he has done. I for one don't know what is going to happen. I was responding to the poster who made the blanket statement that he is going to make it worse. That is Ignorant! The man has only been in office a week!!!

 

[JT12345]

Your average career earnings as a pilot are down over 50%. No more pensions worth 3-9 million in earnings and average pay down 40%. I have never seen so many get it up the ass from an administration and say "thank you sir may I have another".

The lack of regulatory oversight is the reason for oil speculation, the Madoff 50 billion dollar scandal, and 2 other ponsy sceams one for 200 million and one for 400 million. The previous administration was asleep at the wheel. Consumer confidence is down due to lack of trust, outsourcing of jobs, and a fundamental belief the the rich and powerful are not on the side of America and the American people. Hense the election results in a landslide.

 

[Mamma]

Now who is walking around BLIND? You. My comment was "This countries Economy has gone to hell in the last eight years. Wrong. It went down the tubes only in the last year and change. Not the entire eight years. Any airline pilot here who hasn't felt it is being very naive." (Look what has happened to the airline pilot contracts over the last eight years!) Airline contracts take a few other things into consideration. Bad management maybe? I was not saying this because you didn't agree with me. I was stating what is a fact: We are in a recession! Because you don't like it, so! Huh? Are you drinking? Who was the president when it occured? Who was running Congress and the purse-strings when this happened? Who allowed the sub-prime mortgage fiasco? The point was the current president inherited a recession and needs time to try and fix it. I agree. But I and many others may not agree on how he plans to go about doing it. We will see in four years what he has done. Hopefully he does not get everything he wants so we have some sort of economy left. I for one don't know what is going to happen. I can tell. I was responding to the poster who made the blanket statement that he is going to make it worse. That is Ignorant! The man has only been in office a week!!! It is not ignorant. Many folks are against socializing this country and want government to not be so intrusive. It is jut an opinion not ignorance.

I am for giving the man a chance. I do have my limits though. You seem to want to put on blinders and peek out in 4 years and see how he did. Is that a smart approach?

 

[labatt]

Where Bush did a great job is protecting us from another major terrorist attack. That was his #1 priority without question.

I only hope Obama can do as good of a job. If the economy is struggling now, throw in another 9/11 and see where we end up. Good luck to us all.

 

[Mamma]

Your average career earnings as a pilot are down over 50%. No more pensions worth 3-9 million in earnings and average pay down 40%. I have never seen so many get it up the ass from an administration and say "thank you sir may I have another".

The lack of regulatory oversight is the reason for oil speculation, the Madoff 50 billion dollar scandal, and 2 other ponsy sceams one for 200 million and one for 400 million. The previous administration was asleep at the wheel. Consumer confidence is down due to lack of trust, outsourcing of jobs, and a fundamental belief the the rich and powerful are not on the side of America and the American people. Hense the election results in a landslide.

I am by far no fan of Bush. I am a fan of accountability and while Bush war terrible in so many areas, the Democrats were just as bad if not worse in others. That is all I am trying to say. There are no "good guys" in all this. They are all corrupt SOBs I would have loved to see some accountability in Congress this last voting cycle. Problem is the average citizen is too lazy to do their homework when it comes to voting. Far too many incumbants held onto their jobs despite what has happened to the nation.

 

[redflyer65]

Where's Lear70 when you need him?

 

[Eagle757shark]

I am for giving the man a chance. I do have my limits though. You seem to want to put on blinders and peek out in 4 years and see how he did. Is that a smart approach?

The bankruptcy judges that threw out pensions, and the National Mediation Board got their marching orders from the previous administration, thank you!
So if you know what is going to happen over the next 4 years, enlighten us! Hell, tell me what the damn lottery numbers are going to be so I can retire tomorrow. To say the man is going to make things worse and he hasn't even been in office a month is a little naive on your part! You are speaking from both ends! ( I know you didn't make the original statement, but now you are validating the statement made by Crj567 by acting like you DO know what is going to happen)! Maybe you need to run for congress or the presidency, if you have such foresight!

I see you fly or have flown the C-17. Do not be mistaken. I love my country and I fought for her in the United States Air Force and I loved every moment of it (glad to have served, great experience, great people). I don't think this president is trying to make this country a socialist country (you brought up the word above). He has his ideas and in a democracy the american citizens cast their votes! (NO, I'm not drinking very sober...thank you)

 

[Benhuntn]

Why would anyone opposed to Obama's polices give him a chance? Is that what the left did for Bush? Or is the right being nice and giving in to Obama "change"? I "hope" not!

 

[Benhuntn]

term Limits!

 

[Eagle757shark]

This year will be an interesting year for AirTran. If fuel stays close to where it is today, this will probable be a good year for AirTran. They have started recalling the 169 pilots furloughed and upgrades have begun again. Considering all that is going on in our economy, I just pray the company will do well this year. Having been furloughed in my career, I don't wish that on anyone. It is tough out there.

 

[Mamma]

The bankruptcy judges that threw out pensions, and the National Mediation Board got their marching orders from the previous administration, thank you! Judges do not get marching orders from an administration. Its called Separation of Powers. Congress passes law.
So if you know what is going to happen over the next 4 years, enlighten us! Never said I knew what would happen but I have an opinion on how things are handled. Hell, tell me what the damn lottery numbers are going to be so I can retire tomorrow. 4-9-12-34-23-11 and 44 for the powerball. I am sure of these! To say the man is going to make things worse and he hasn't even been in office a month is a little naive on your part! No it is not. Trusting him blindly is naive on your part. You are speaking from both ends! I believe the term is speaking from both sides of your mouth...not both ends. ( I know you didn't make the original statement, but now you are validating the statement made by Crj567 by acting like you DO know what is going to happen)! You should take a class in reading comprehension. I have no idea where you are getting this idea. Maybe you need to run for congress or the presidency, if you have such foresight! Foresight does not get one elected.

I see you fly or have flown the C-17, don't be mistaken. Mistaken about what? I love my country and I fought for her in the United States Air Force and I loved every moment of it (glad to have served, great experience, great people). Thank you! I don't think this president is trying to make this country a socialist country (you brought up the word above). I guess I did. What I meant was some of his policies are socialist and I think there are better ways to go about fixing problems we face. He has his ideas and in a democracy the american citizens cast their votes! Yes they did. So, since the citizens voted for Bush should we have all just shut up and colored when he was trying to work his agenda? (NO, I'm not drinking very sober...thank you) That is too bad. It would have been a good excuse.

Dude,
I am going to give you the clue back. What are you talking about in your rants? Did you even read what I wrote???

 

[waka]

No one is safe in this economy-Obama will only make it far worse.

Only an idiot thinks that they can predict the economy based on what is spoon-fed to them by right wing talk radio and bloggers.

 

[Max Powers]

Where Bush did a great job is protecting us from another major terrorist attack. That was his #1 priority without question.

I only hope Obama can do as good of a job. If the economy is struggling now, throw in another 9/11 and see where we end up. Good luck to us all.

You have to be joking!!!!!!! Bush destroyed any hope we had in the near term of putting a lid on Muslim extremists. He enraged even the moderate Muslims of the world with his ignorant policies. Now we have Iraq, which used to be a great counter to Iran, in complete disarray. The only thing keeping the Iraqi people from killing themselves are miles and miles of walls keeping different feuding religions/tribes apart.

Obama: "we have an outstretched hand to Muslim countries and will gladly take yours as long as you unclench your fist." That's called being a realist and fixing problem.

 

[gt1900]

Its kinda funny how people forget that we never really had to deal with Iran because of Iraq. Having a strong Iraq that hated Iran was really a pretty good thing. Now, we have an Iraq that could never stand up to Iran, and Iran is building nukes.... IMO, Ill take Sadam back any day. At least then we don't have to worry about a nulcear Iran...

 

[Ty Webb]

Talk about thread creep!

From AirTran to Eye-ran . . . . talk about thread creep. No wonder I don't spend much time here anymore.


2008 was the first unprofitable year since 1999. The sky is not falling. AirTran will be in a solid position for the next few quarters. If oil stays low, we'll be around for a while.

If it shoots back up over $120., look for a trip thru Chapt 11.

TW