Any news at F9?

[F9 Driver]

$6.60!!

pretty scrappy threads for an airline with $5 stock and not a lot of money in the bank.

I like it.

Gup

Frontier shares rise along with passenger traffic
The Denver Post

Article Last Updated: 10/05/2007 04:32:23 PM MDT

Frontier shares climbed nearly 5 percent today — closing at $6.60, up 31 cents — on news of higher passenger traffic.
The carrier released its monthly traffic report late Thursday, which showed its planes were 77.9 percent full in September, up 10.3 percentage points from the year-ago month.
Separately, Frontier today started new nonstops between Denver and Sioux City, Iowa, and between Denver and Rapid City, S.D.
The new routes were ones Frontier had initially hoped to serve with 74-seat Q400 planes through its new Lynx Aviation turboprop subsidiary, but Lynx has not yet received necessary federal certification to begin the flights.
Denver-based Frontier now flies each of the new routes twice daily with 76-seat Embraer E-170 regional jets. Frontier's primary regional jet carrier is Republic Airlines.
Frontier Airlines also plans to use another airline, ExpressJet, to fly some of its routes until Lynx is certified.
Kelly Yamanouchi: 303-954-1488 or [email protected]

 

[Eagle757shark]

AirTran is very hungry. This has been a very good financial year for AirTran. I believe AirTran is still looking for a partner to further grow the airline. Of course with a marketing agreement already in place, could a merger between AirTran and Frontier work? Forget about the fleet difference, because that could work. There would need to be some adjustments, but wouldn't be a show stopper as so many may think. I imagine that the bean counters are really studying this marketing agreement and trying to see if a complete merger would yield significant profits. I think one thing that would definitely be of value to AirTran would be some of the Int'l destinations that Frontier currently serves. I imagine many of those destinations would see service in and out of Orlando. I believe United and Southwest would hate to see AirTran acquire Frontier, a whole new animal would be created then!

 

[Cloud F9]

It's been a little while since my last post... so here is the latest from the inside at Lynx: We have been busy finalizing the 'phase 2' portion and we will start flying our new planes next Monday in preparation for proving run practice. We are taking delivery of 4 more planes this month (total of 6 thus far) while the remaining 4 continue to be built. It looks like the proving runs will begin the first week of Nov (possibly earlier) and certification a couple weeks after. Hopefully just in time for Thanksgiving! We still retain all 10 options with plans to exercise them in 2008.

As far as pilots go - Lynx is still hiring CAs and FOs. Just hired #63 total pilots with 10 more starting on Oct 15. 100+ pilots needed for the 10 aircraft. Those of you that are interested- please email your resume to [email protected] . They are conducting interviews this week and next. The classes should slow down in Nov for holidays and available sim time. Get your resume in if you are on the fence. Come see what Lynx has to offer for you.

My experience here has been impressive. The management knows you by name- The staff here is collectively dedicated to making this airline work and building a great place to call home. I have enjoyed working with everyone and the atmosphere is a positive one - despite the setback and delays that are out of their control. We continue to bring on talented and experienced people that add their expertise where needed without hesitation

>> I can only see the upcoming flame response about the pay... so let me say that YES it is below industry... and YES it will be addressed soon. All focus is to get certified and start bringing IN money otherwise... We feel confident that our situation is appreciated by management. I bet that when Frontier relaunched in the early 90s - they had the similar concerns then... but now look at the pilot group! You gotta start somewhere.

I believe the underlining nature of these forums is to help our peers... and not just complain and throw rocks. (fun at times though!) As with any career decisions - do gather as much info and find what suites your situation. Best of luck to all - as the industry has come a long way since 2001.

~ M.P.

 

[Charlie Brown]

Our management is not known to lie to us, and they have stated that DEN has been a very, very good city for us. Beginning Nov. 4, we will have 16 non-stop destinations out of DEN.

Yeah, we are losing so much money in DEN, we keep adding flying out there. I am inclined to believe the "Kool-Aid" that we are kicking butt. When asked non specifically about our best markets, a member of our management team mentioned DEN. I see no need to have brought it up if it were false.

In any case, I have a few buddies at F9, and I wish you all the best. You guys have a good product.

 

[AnimalTale]

pretty scrappy threads for an airline with $5 stock and not a lot of money in the bank.

I like it.

Gup

You are absolutely right! I like it too. We are learning from you (SWA). If we are cocky, arrogant, scrappy and kool-aid drinkers, maybe we can be like SWA, the BEST AIRLINE IN THE WORLD!

I love it. Give us a break, dude! You are in our territory, dropping prices and dissolving yields to steal market share---------->You guys are like cancer man, and no matter how big you are "little old " Frontier will try its best to COMPETE!

We are not giving up, and as a RESULT our market shows that. I am PROUD of that and there is no better Airline out there (F9 RULES!!!! F9 ROCKS!!!)

Do you have your application in with us?


CYA

 

[crashpad]

Do you have your application in with us?

He's not interested because F9 doesn't have male stewardesses prancing around in tight brown hot-pants.

 

[AnimalTale]

Crashpad,

I only said that because ALMOST everytime I see a SWA pilot, they ask me if I have my stuff in there!!!

Kind of reminds of the UAL glory days.


CYA

 

[Tanker Clown]

Crashpad,

I only said that because ALMOST everytime I see a SWA pilot, they ask me if I have my stuff in there!!!

Kind of reminds of the UAL glory days.


CYA

Well, do you? They'll call you quicker if you go get the type.

 

[Whataburger]

I love it. Give us a break, dude! You are in our territory, dropping prices and dissolving yields to steal market share---------->You guys are like cancer man, and no matter how big you are "little old " Frontier will try its best to COMPETE!

CYA

Um...Isn't that how the industry works? It's called competition, survival of the fittest, American Dream, etc. This isn't the 1800's where you stake a claim by putting a stick in the ground with your name on it. If you wanna keep the "territory" "yours," then fight for it.

BTW, the SWA pilots did not decide to start flying in there or set the prices in which we fly, so therefore there is no reason to be angry at us.

 

[AnimalTale]

Um...Isn't that how the industry works? It's called competition, survival of the fittest, American Dream, etc. This isn't the 1800's where you stake a claim by putting a stick in the ground with your name on it. If you wanna keep the "territory" "yours," then fight for it.

BTW, the SWA pilots did not decide to start flying in there or set the prices in which we fly, so therefore there is no reason to be angry at us.

Go reread your buddy's (Guppywn) post. He is the one smarting-off about F9's scrappy attitude. I was just replying to him.

BTW, I love competition. We already know F9 is the underdog (I love my underdog). It is always GOOD to see a little humility injected into a GOLIATH companys' koolaid drinking, untouchable "thinking" employees and one day it too can happen to SWA. (BTW, I really do like SWA, I just get irritated with some of Yalls attitude)

I dont wish for anybody to lose their jobs (My 7th airline-and yes I once flew for -a-GOLIATH). I just think our industry is funny. Nobody seems to learn from the past and there is one airline per decade that always takes it in the shorts because they thought they were unbeatable.

BTW, I have many friends at SWA (I really do admire SWA), I was just responding to Guppywn' s "BIG" remarks.

Fly Safe,

CYA

 

[AnimalTale]

Well, do you? They'll call you quicker if you go get the type.

I cant afford it! Airlinepilots dont make that much $$$.

CYA

 

[Tanker Clown]

You can still apply though. I heard that you can write it off on your taxes. Hopefully they'll call you and me down in the spring for an interview in the big D. Good luck!

 

[AnimalTale]

I would love to, but Im too scared to go sit PILOT #6000 at this AGE.

I kinda feel like its the "Housing Bubble", I dont want to be invited to the party too late.

Good luck

CYA

 

[jke406]

We feel confident that our situation is appreciated by management.

that and 5 bucks will get you a cup of coffee at starbucks.

 

[GuppyWN]

I love it. Give us a break, dude! You are in our territory, dropping prices and dissolving yields to steal market share---------->You guys are like cancer man, and no matter how big you are "little old " Frontier will try its best to COMPETE!


Do you have your application in with us?


CYA

My friend I've "been there got the t-shirt." I left F9 and am now a captain at SWA. I made my comment because I really do like the scrappy attitude.

I will also say that you have your work cut out for you. I specifically asked upper management if F9 was a target. The response was " I just don't see where there is room in Denver for 3 airlines." Look at our October and November schedule ramp up in Denver and tell me what you think that implies.

I mean no ill will to your pilot group. I absolutely loved my time and if you had ever read my previous postings on F9 you would see that I have the upmost respect for Sam Addams and his legacy but it's not Sams airline anymore.

Gup

 

[Cardinal]

Guppy, you're making me feel ill.

But I pwned Page 4!

 

[climb2slow]

I think that your November ramp up in denver speaks more tothe fact that you guys have airplanes on a firm delivery schedule and you have to fly them somewhere! Regardless of whether Denver is making money or not, you guys need to fly these airplanes somewhere. Perhaps Denver is a market like the long haul ones, where you will give up on it in a few years? whaddya think?

 

[Avee8tr]

"My friend I've "been there got the t-shirt." I left F9 and am now a captain at SWA. I made my comment because I really do like the scrappy attitude.

I will also say that you have your work cut out for you. I specifically asked upper management if F9 was a target. The response was " I just don't see where there is room in Denver for 3 airlines." Look at our October and November schedule ramp up in Denver and tell me what you think that implies.

I mean no ill will to your pilot group. I absolutely loved my time and if you had ever read my previous postings on F9 you would see that I have the upmost respect for Sam Addams and his legacy but it's not Sams airline anymore.

Gup"


What an arrogant, pompass statement....we should all leave F9 and go and become a Capt. at SWA. Or we all should've followed your footsteps. Do us all a favor and go back to the SWA threads and leave us alone with the "Airline that is no longer Sam's". What kind of statement was that. I DID go back and read your posts and came to the conclusion that you should go back to "upper management" and ask them for the Lotto numbers for Saturday.
Maybe you could find another venue to focus your time on instead of the flightinfo F9 board.

 

[AnimalTale]

Captain Guppy,

Not only are some of your employees arrogant, your management team is worst. THis kind of attitude is the kiss of death.


Good day,

CYA

 

[AnimalTale]

-deleted-

 

[StopNTSing]

One person's arrogance is another's inferiority complex.

 

[AnimalTale]

re-read my posts.

CYA

 

[Charlie Brown]

I too like a good Sam Adams.

Wait, were we talking about airlines or beer?

 

[RiteSideUp]

When asked non specifically about our best markets, a member of our management team mentioned DEN. I see no need to have brought it up if it were false.

Unless their ego will not let them say otherwise....

I will also say that you have your work cut out for you. I specifically asked upper management if F9 was a target. The response was " I just don't see where there is room in Denver for 3 airlines." Look at our October and November schedule ramp up in Denver and tell me what you think that implies.

It could imply that they are aiming at united or even the fact that denver is a way tougher nut to crack than they origanally thought. There may not be room for 3 airlines in denver, but I think Frontier is the premier airline operating here and the most reveared of the three. That goes a long way for passenger loyalty and it's sustainability.

Long live F9!

 

[M3pilot]

"My friend I've "been there got the t-shirt." I left F9 and am now a captain at SWA. I made my comment because I really do like the scrappy attitude.

I will also say that you have your work cut out for you. I specifically asked upper management if F9 was a target. The response was " I just don't see where there is room in Denver for 3 airlines." Look at our October and November schedule ramp up in Denver and tell me what you think that implies.

I mean no ill will to your pilot group. I absolutely loved my time and if you had ever read my previous postings on F9 you would see that I have the upmost respect for Sam Addams and his legacy but it's not Sams airline anymore.

Gup"


What an arrogant, pompass statement....we should all leave F9 and go and become a Capt. at SWA. Or we all should've followed your footsteps. Do us all a favor and go back to the SWA threads and leave us alone with the "Airline that is no longer Sam's". What kind of statement was that. I DID go back and read your posts and came to the conclusion that you should go back to "upper management" and ask them for the Lotto numbers for Saturday.
Maybe you could find another venue to focus your time on instead of the flightinfo F9 board.

I can't sit idle any longer. Please don't condescend to F9. Frankly we don't need it to feel ok about our jobs. We're doing just fine in Denver and will continue to do so. BTW, SWA is losing $20M a year in DEN using a model of doing business that they've never used before. Interesting to say the least.

But it appears that a big vat of the same kool-aid that was served to UAL 14 years ago regarding F9 in DEN is being proffered to the ranks of SWA. One paramount difference glares though; F9 was here before SWA.

And...none of us believes that you left F9 for SWA because it is no longer "Sam's airline". You went for greener grass. I hope you truly found it. But don't kid us, or yourself for that matter.

We've been duped by a few fence-jumpers lately who were'nt as sincere as I hope your decisions are based on. But the "sorry guys, but management wants to crush you guys" thing is getting rather old... <yawn> Don't reduce it to cutesy terms like 'scrappiness' - for it is based on much more than that. If you were at all invested here you understand that.

You can just feel the throng of local SWA pilots wringing their hands with a twinkle in their eye as they dream about a new DEN base, devoid of the "little thorn in their side" known as F9...

An unusually high percentage of individuals at this company truly cherish the opportunity to go to work each day and feel strongly so thereabout, that they will do damn near anything to keep that spirit alive. I am one of those individuals; and I have the privilege of working among them. We have pride; we have an awesome team; we have a superior product; we care about one another and in turn - our customers... and that my friends is a powerful recipe for what is known in our industry as a commodity. The local community embraces that fact; not because we throw money at corporate entities with flashy sponsorship offers and silly 'ding' commercials aimed at the wal-mart-style clientele, but a true-to-heart, 'we believed in this town when nobody else did, embracing approach to taking care of our own - from company - to employee - to customer - to community style of doing business. We will not engage in a race to the bottom for greed's sake or any other. We believe in a more professional and realistic, responsible way of doing business which allows for fair, profitable pricing, restoring respect and value to air travel, and genuinely caring for our customers.

I know SWA has a reputation for partying, schmoozing the FAA, and generally creating a 'fun' culture, and I respect many aspects of that. What I will not stand for, however as a peer in this business is the condescending tone that seems so rampant lately. Please, if you can't respectfully acknowledge us as a professional, viable competitor and a native of DEN and CO in general, don't say anything at all. We are proud to employ 4,000 individuals in the Front Range area. We have taken great care of those folks and our passengers. We know your market cap; we know who you are; but don't insult us. We're happy for our own reasons, but we're not ignorant. We don't need your premature/undue sympathy...

Best of luck to you and I hope we mutually enjoy success and fair winds wherever our compasses take us.

M3

 

[canyonblue]

Captain Guppy,

Not only are some of your employees arrogant,............................

CYA

I'm not arrogant, but as far as Denver, the Rockies, Av's, Bronco's and Nugget's suck. :smash:

 

[RiteSideUp]

I'm not arrogant, but as far as Denver, the Rockies, Av's, Bronco's and Nugget's suck. :smash:

You may want to remove the Rockies from that list.....

 

[learherkjay]

Okay,

I'll bite, what is the deal with the animosity here? First of all, I am a DEN commuter and a SWA pilot. I think F9 is a great airline with excellent people; a really great product. Second, I have never heard anyone at SWA mention a desire to put anybody out of business. This conspiracy theory and attitude of "us vs. them" started with Potter claiming war when SWA entered the market. Why didn't he do that when JetBlue or AirTran started business there? There is plenty of business for all airlines at DEN and since SWA entered the market, DEN has risen to the 4th busiest airport in the nation...so isn't that good news for everyone? Also, SWA is not losing 20 mil a year in DEN; it happens to be one of our better markets (I have seen the numbers). I wish my brothers at F9 all of the best...I think both airlines have bright futures

 

[AnimalTale]

I'm not arrogant, but as far as Denver, the Rockies, Av's, Bronco's and Nugget's suck. :smash:

I agree, Brotha! The RedWIngs RULE!!! How are the DC10 turn ons????

KIT,

CYA

 

[GuppyWN]

M3,

Very well written. I thought it was clear in my post that I have a lot of great memories of you guys and I wish nothing but the best. I absolutely left Frontier because I had to plan as best I could for a retirement that was 30 years away. Was it the right move? Who knows. Plain and simple. Educated crap shoot.

When I say that F9 isn't "Sams airline" anymore that exactly what I mean. Sam cared. It was his baby. He wasn't an airline guru. He was a banker that had a belief that he could follow through with an idea and create a great little airline. I went to Sam when I got hired at WN and told him "I want to stay here. Talk me into it." After hearing what each other had to say he looked me in the eye and said "go with my blessing....... and tell Herb I said hi." I'll forever be endebted to him for "giving me permission" to leave a great relationship behind.

Potter was all about Potter. Left F9 once and ran Vanguard into the ground. Came back to F9. Left again with his pockets full. I have no respect for the man. If he's your hero then good on you but that's not how I feel.

Here's what I see in Denver. We want to grow. If we can swing a new concourse or the other half of C we will. We have 5 gates. We have grown Denver faster than any new city we have opened. It is the best new city we have ever opened. The flights are full. YES WE ARE LOSING MONEY IN DEN. That is because we are cutting our own throats to gain market share. There is a big difference between kicking ass load wise and revenue wise. If you do some research you will find that we give up revenue for a couple of YEARS on a new market to gain that initial foothold.

Here's the deal. I don't decide what markets we fly to. I just push the thrust levers up. I hope there is ample business for all of us. Period - but to not hope the best for my current paycheck would be foolish. I am sure you understand that.

Respectfully,
Gup