750+ newhires at SWA in 05 *confirmed*

[DBCOOPER]

I would venture to guess that Frieght Dog was referring to the fact that if there was a merger of SWA/Aloha (not holding my breath) - that an "interview" process would be given to the Aloha pilots. I don't think so.

This rumor has been going on for quite awhile. Personally I don't think it will happen, but if it does....great for my job security. I will have to prepare myself to work much harder though, seeing as how this Aloha gig has got to be the easiest job in the airline industry.

 

[Cheesemo]

I heard the training center guys talking about a class a week for a couple of months in the early part of the year to front load the hiring number, then backing off to the standard every two weeks later in the year. That would tie in with the redistribution of PC/PT's this winter. '05 should be an interesting year!


Cheers

 

[snoopy505]

I think Freight Dog was talking about the part where Aloha was practically "begging" SWA to buy the -700s. How could that be? If it was such a great deal, they would've bought Aloha years ago. Now that Aloha has a new CEO, I'm sure he is not ready to give up his reign yet. Plus, if the merger deal was not in the best interest of everyone, to include the pilots, the owners would not sell. That is the way it is at Aloha. You see, sometimes it pays to be privately owned.

 

[Freight Dog]

I don't see us giving up our -700's to SWA unless they were outright buying us, and it definitely doesn't seem that SWA is even remotely interested in us. But just for giggles... if SWA took our -700's, our pilots would go with them. It's spelled out in our contract.

 

[PSL]

It (transfer of assets) might be in your contract, but we've seen how contracts hold up to judicial scrutiny in the 'brave new world'.

I thought we would never go near PHL, we did. I thought we were done (aka ... Morris Air) with acquisitions, wrong again ... as our bid for ATA assets proves.

One thing is for sure; this CEO is considering all his options and exercising the privileges that 1.92B cash in the bank provides.

If we were to acquire your B-737s, you might come with the airplanes ... but I know 2000 + FOs that would be irate at anything more than just a staple of your pilots to the bottom of our list.

 

[G4G5]

I don't see us giving up our -700's to SWA unless they were outright buying us, and it definitely doesn't seem that SWA is even remotely interested in us. But just for giggles... if SWA took our -700's, our pilots would go with them. It's spelled out in our contract.

I seem to remember quite a few TWA pilots saying the exact same thing prior to ALPA selling them down the river.

 

[HalinTexas]

One thing that might help the training picture. ATA has an underutilized sim in ATL (Marietta) that I'm sure SWA could lease on the cheap if not outright buy. Changes to make it a -700 WN jet would be minimal.

 

[learherkjay]

DAL - DEN - it's all I want for Christmas!!!

 

[Freight Dog]

I seem to remember quite a few TWA pilots saying the exact same thing prior to ALPA selling them down the river.

Don't get me wrong... I know TWA guys got royally hosed, but they still hold seniority numbers at AA. I'm referring to having to "re-interview" for your job, and that just won't fly.

It (transfer of assets) might be in your contract, but we've seen how contracts hold up to judicial scrutiny in the 'brave new world'.

If we were to acquire your B-737s, you might come with the airplanes ... but I know 2000 + FOs that would be irate at anything more than just a staple of your pilots to the bottom of our list.

Show me one merger where everyone was happy... I guess when both sides are unhappy, that would probably be a fair merger...

In any case... it's a moot point because I really don't see anything happening between us and SWA. No need to raise our collective BP over nothin..

 

[PSL]

MY BP is not up over you post ... these decisions are made far above my pay grade ... I simple fly the airplane as safely and economically as I can.

My point was simple; to point out how bad my predictive skills are regarding our 'corporate moves'.

If SWA were to buy (if you own them) or assume the leases on Aloha's 737s, this would not constitute a merger by any stretch of the imigination.

If the TWA/AA hook-up was not a merger, as deemed so by the courts, any acquisition of assets by SWA would be that ... an asset purchase.

I know nothing about your company or your PWA, other than I have been treated with the highest degree of courtesy and comfort when I am visiting friends in HI.

My point, rearding the FOs, was to point out that SWA FO's would not be thrilled by any lenghty delay in upgrade by SWA giving the pilots of Aloha DOH on our seniority list. The Morris pilots got to keep their captain chair until such time as they could attend FO training. They were pay protected during the integration ... and still that was not enough for some of them.

Either way ... you are correct ... I don't see any real interest in Aloha's A/C ... but my batting average to date on these situations is next to zero.

 

[snoopy505]

With Aloha having about 353 pilots, I don't see where it would impact the current pilots at SWA. If they are indeed going to be hiring 750+ next year, the total number of pilots at AQ isn't even half that amount. So it might set back some FOs a year or two...

 

[English]

Moot point anyway...anyone thinking an Aloha pilot is going to become a Southwest pilot by any means other than applying and being hired is DREAMING.

 

[PSL]

Snoopy505:

With upgrades getting longer and longer at SWA ... I doubt you would find one FO that would be willing to wait any longer than necessary.

English is correct. Getting to SWA by any means other than inteviewing and working one's way up the seniority ladder would create far more problems than the monies gained by a DOH integration.

The seniority system is what it is ... it's not perfect, but it does protect those who arrived at the game first and anything done to change that is dangerous.

Choosing an airline/employer is very much like choosing a mate ... you evaluate the pros/cons and then take a leap of faith.

Either way, DOH integrations are rarely acceptable to anyone other than those of the acquired airline. It's the sense of entitlement that some espouse that create most of the problems in these situations.

 

[Boeingman]

I seem to remember quite a few TWA pilots saying the exact same thing prior to ALPA selling them down the river.

All pilots say the same thing about going with the airplanes. All pilots always end up getting hosed because there are a zillion loopholes in these types of agreements.

 

[Double Shot]

With Aloha having about 353 pilots, I don't see where it would impact the current pilots at SWA. If they are indeed going to be hiring 750+ next year, the total number of pilots at AQ isn't even half that amount. So it might set back some FOs a year or two...

It is called STAPLED TO THE BOTTOM of our list.

 

[sfomarc]

I know 2000 + FOs that would be irate at anything more than just a staple of your pilots to the bottom of our list.

One here.