Airtran posts 4th quarter profit of 1.9 million

[gt1900]

Roughneck... It would be nice if you tried to keep this sensible as well. Do you honestly think we will be happy at the bottom end of your seniority list? The "alternative" as you say, is that AAI keeps growing, keeps expanding into the caribbean, and we possibly look to merge with a company such as ALA. While SWA continues to have the best contract out there, with relatively no growth, and no international flying.

Heres an idea. Put SWA's top 850 (the guys hired before AAI was even a company) on the top, put AAI's bottom 100 (the guys hired after SWA stopped hiring) on the bottom, and integrate everyone else 1-4 (or whatever the ratio would be between the remaining pilots), and then put up a 3-5 year fence. The AAI guys would lose a little relative seniority overall (they would lose a lot the first 5 years, but it wouldn't matter if there was a fence), but it wouldn't efffect anyone short term.

IMO, that would fall somewhere between relative seniority, and date of hire. At the end of 5 years, most of the top SWA guys would be gone (and a few of the AAI guys) and I "think" everyone would be only slightly unhappy. And IMO that would be a very good success.

 

[Ty Webb]

If you put up a big ol' fence, how am I going to fly with my new fan club?

Ty

 

[roughneck]

The "alternative" as you say, is that AAI keeps growing, keeps expanding into the caribbean, and we possibly look to merge with a company such as AL

How are you going to grow? You no longer have any airplane orders. Nobody wants to buy you other than SWA because we want your gates in ATL and a few slots. The alternative is a lot closer to Muse Air than it is Delta.

Do you honestly think we will be happy at the bottom end of your seniority list?

You seem to keep confusing yourself with the acquiring carrier. It doesn't matter what you are happy with in the end.

 

[MILPILOT17]

If you put up a big ol' fence, how am I going to fly with my new fan club?

Ty

Maybe we could put a special exclusion in for Ty to jump the fence every couple of months or so Oh, and you buy the beer!

 

[gt1900]

How are you going to grow? You no longer have any airplane orders. Nobody wants to buy you other than SWA because we want your gates in ATL and a few slots. The alternative is a lot closer to Muse Air than it is Delta.



You seem to keep confusing yourself with the acquiring carrier. It doesn't matter what you are happy with in the end.

Why don't we have any airplane orders? If it weren't for the SWA deal we would still have 50 or 55 on order, and theres 20 or so 717's sitting in the desert. AAI was growing, and "was" hiring pilots, unlike SWA.. Who cares if nobody else wanted to purchase AAI, making money 8 out of 9 years and a growing economy would look pretty good to me. AAI doesn't need to be bought by anyone to remain profitable and grow. The alternative is a company that continues to grow slowly and continues to make profits.

You keep confusing AAI with a company that was bankrupt and needs to be bought out. AAI is none of those. AAI is a very stable airline that can continue to make money in the future. Why else would SWA be interested in purchasing us?

Again. We can come to the table and be reasonable, or we can come to the table and make unrealistic demands. AAI is not F9, and yes, we will demand to be treated fairly. Either that, or we will have another USAir debacle on our hands. I don't think anyone wants that.

 

[ASADFW7]

qt1900 good enthusiasm, figure out at your rates how long it will take to earn a million dollars of wages and then reshuffle. That will be much closer to the end result. Look at it this way, you just a won a million plus dollars over the length of your career and have much better job security. Nothing personal I am happy for you. It just is what it is. Easy math, $1 000 000 divided by $150 000 a year average for captains look for captains to insert about at year seven, with the exceptions of the aged. All things equal in the end you just won a million. Enjoy it, it sure makes life easier.

 

[CaptAntoineMack]

If you put up a big ol' fence, how am I going to fly with my new fan club?

Ty

There is a club forming alright. But it certainly isn't a fan club.

I don't know who is making the stickers. I found it kinda funny. And honestly a bit extreme. Like all this drivel on this board.

Someone said they have seen it. Something about covering up a Jane Fonda sticker. I'll let you know when I actually see one.

 

[j41driver]

We are acquiring a questionable work group.

And you're labeling the AirTran pilot group as questionable based on...what? A dozen guys that post on an anonymous web forum?

 

[Bill Nelson]

And you're labeling the AirTran pilot group as questionable based on...what?

Maybe he is basing it on the number of scabs in your ranks? Maybe because you had a 98% strike vote over wages your company can't afford to pay? Maybe it is because of the over the top posts on this forum? Maybe it is all of the above?

 

[ultrarunner]

Sweet!

That is a whole penny a share!

http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2011/01/28/business-industrials-earns-airtran_8280661.html

Hey, not bad. In other news, Apple had net earnings of 6 BILLION on revenues of 27 BILLION, for the quarter. And have just under 60 BILLION in cash-on-hand.

So AAI and SWA definitely have something to shoot for. Along with putting in perspective SWA's 1.4 billion dollar deal for AAI.

 

[gt1900]

qt1900 good enthusiasm, figure out at your rates how long it will take to earn a million dollars of wages and then reshuffle. That will be much closer to the end result. Look at it this way, you just a won a million plus dollars over the length of your career and have much better job security. Nothing personal I am happy for you. It just is what it is. Easy math, $1 000 000 divided by $150 000 a year average for captains look for captains to insert about at year seven, with the exceptions of the aged. All things equal in the end you just won a million. Enjoy it, it sure makes life easier.

Who's CPT's make $150,000 on average? I guarantee you its not AAI's 12 year CPT's. Id say our average 12 year CPT was around $175,000 before the new pay raises. Not including retirement. Like I said, SWA's contract is better, but its not the windfall that some of you guys seem to think it is. Especially if we lose a lot of seniority. If the SWA guys understand that there needs to be a fair integration, then this thing could be very good for both pilot groups. But if you guys think that your going to have 1800 happy SWA pilots with great attitudes after you try and staple us, your in for a big suprise.. Remember, an 8 or 9 year AAI pilot makes more then an 8 and 9 year SWA pilot. So this isnt a huge windfall if we get stapled. If it weren't for the merger, Id be able to hold the left seat in a couple months. The difference between my 7 year pay at both airlines would have been pretty small.

 

[ASADFW7]

gt1900, we both have our issues. I guess it is all in play.

 

[Bill Nelson]

Remember, an 8 or 9 year AAI pilot makes more then an 8 and 9 year SWA pilot. So this isnt a huge windfall if we get stapled.

Dude, where are you from? Earth to moon base, come in, over?

A 5 year SWA F/O makes more money than your number 1 captain. You need to look at the big picture. You have won the lottery and if you aren't careful you will lose the ticket before you get to cash it in.

 

[CaptAntoineMack]

And you're labeling the AirTran pilot group as questionable based on...what? A dozen guys that post on an anonymous web forum?

Simply...yes. If you or anyone else on this board think that this FI group unfairly represents your pilot group, why do they not speak up?

I can see that most all the ones from SWA speaking on this forum are sharing the sentiments of most of our pilots.

Whether anyone likes it or not, the voices on this forum are the only ones being heard. And it is not good. But when I try to say that, more Airtran guys go personal further eroding the situation. Therefore lowering the way the SWA pilots feel about your work group. This is unfortunately a true fact.

A basic difference right now is that I am concerned enough that I hope this whole acquisition goes away. Most all our pilots would be happy, and most all your pilots would be extremely disappointed.

 

[johnsonrod]

How are you going to grow? You no longer have any airplane orders. Nobody wants to buy you other than SWA because we want your gates in ATL and a few slots. The alternative is a lot closer to Muse Air than it is Delta.



You seem to keep confusing yourself with the acquiring carrier. It doesn't matter what you are happy with in the end.

What are you smoking? GT1900 has it right. There are plenty of opportunities for AT to grow right now if SWA wasn't MERGING with them. Mexicana Click just parked 25 717s. They also had 738 orders. You guys are gonna lose!