Gary Kelly on ATL News

[iluvflying]

Kelly said in the company’s 40-year history, there has never been a furlough, pay cut, benefits taken away.

That bodes well for the 6,000 Airtran employees wondering about the big changes coming over the next 24 months. Kelly told Channel 2 that Airtran, its people, aircraft, and all systems will be fully integrated into Southwest.

http://www.wsbtv.com/news/27110644/detail.html

Thoughts?

 

[StopNTSing]

What's there to say? The record speaks for itself. It's a very conservatively (some would say too conservatively) run company.

 

[jonjuan]

Kelly said in the company’s 40-year history, there has never been a furlough, pay cut, benefits taken away.

You can thank Scott Topping for that.

 

[redflyer65]

Especially when you OWN most of the aircraft. Completely different than every other carrier.

 

[maxblast72]

Should of followed that segment up with a segment asking Richard Anderson what he thought of the new LCC in town having 300+ departures a day within a few years.

 

[Ronnie75]

Should of followed that segment up with a segment asking Richard Anderson what he thought of the new LCC in town having 300+ departures a day within a few years.

Probably the same way he felt when Airtran had/has 280...

 

[roughneck]

Probably the same way he felt when Airtran had/has 280

You have less than 200 but who is counting.

 

[ATLplt]

You have less than 200 but who is counting.

Hence the "had" there tough guy.

 

[roughneck]

Hence the "had" there tough guy.

Interesting, I thought you guys were thriving and growing gang busters? AirTran has sold more planes in the past 3 years than they have orders for in the next 10 years. I'd say thanks to Gary Kelly if you ever get a chance to meet him. You may have a career after all, just maybe.

 

[FIREMAN]

Interesting, I thought you guys were thriving and growing gang busters? AirTran has sold more planes in the past 3 years than they have orders for in the next 10 years. I'd say thanks to Gary Kelly if you ever get a chance to meet him. You may have a career after all, just maybe.

Not even close there Buddy. Try doing some research.

 

[roughneck]

You have around 50 firm orders on the books. You have sold more planes and delivery slots than that in recent years. That is factual.

 

[FIREMAN]

You have less than 200 but who is counting.

Once again do some research 360 daily operations for ATL

 

[StopNTSing]

Once again do some research 360 daily operations for ATL

Okay, this is a new term for me. Is a "daily operation" the same as a departure?

 

[roughneck]

Okay, this is a new term for me. Is a "daily operation" the same as a departu

No, It means 180 departures but from the guy in the corner it sounds better to say 360 "daily operations." It really doesn't matter much here. AirTran is a small airline in comparison to the acquiring airline and nothing on this board will change the facts.

 

[roughneck]

You have around 50 firm orders on the books. You have sold more planes and delivery slots than that in recent years. That is factual.

This is the fact to focus on if you feel like dealing with facts.

 

[Dan Roman]

Especially when you OWN most of the aircraft. Completely different than every other carrier.

Food for thought, if those aircraft become outdated, is it a liability to own older generation A/C and be at a competitive disadvantage going up against airlines with a more modern fleet?

 

[roughneck]

Food for thought, if those aircraft become outdated, is it a liability to own older generation A/C and be at a competitive disadvantage going up against airlines with a more modern fleet?

I have to assume you also feel having a fleet that is majority "red headed step children" 717's is also a liability? The SWA fleet has more than 7 times the number of "new" -700's as AirTran. Who has the liability?

 

[humveedriver]

You have around 50 firm orders on the books. You have sold more planes and delivery slots than that in recent years. That is factual.

I think you are talking about the post 2008 fleet plan. Airtran was the launch customer for the 717 back in 1998. In 2003 AT added the 737NG fleet model with 100 orders, and then place another order for 15 (115 total). After the oil spike in 2008 AT modified the fleet plan. AT sold/returned 11 737NG's and deferred 36 737NG's. This required no new aircraft payments until Q2 of 2012. The 2009 fleet consisted of 86 717's and 50 737's. The 2010 fleet plan was originally for 174 total aircraft, reduced to 138. We added 2 737's that year. The 2011 fleet plan was originally for 188 aircraft reduced to 145. We are scheduled to take deliver of 2 717's and 4 737's this year. 138 plus 6 is 144. That's 1 short for the forecast. After the 27SEP announcement our deliveries became moot.

 

[dicko]

You have around 50 firm orders on the books. You have sold more planes and delivery slots than that in recent years. That is factual.

I'm a little curious about your numbers. Do you have something to back them up ?

You need to show that AirTran sold more than 50 Aircraft and delivery slots
in the last three years. Deferring an aircraft delivery to a later date doesn't amount to selling a slot or an aircraft.

You may begin ....

 

[roughneck]

AT sold/returned 11 737NG's and deferred 36 737NG's. This required no new aircraft payments until Q2 of 2012

Humvee summed it up well. The fleet bleed was planned to continue because BOB knew he was losing money and had nothing in the bank for payments and nowhere to put any new aircraft. That is the reason AirTran has been for sale. Gary wants gates in Atlanta and you guys were selling them cheaper than we could have battled you for them.

You are being acquired for that reason alone.