ATA & Southwest MERGE!!!!!

[Metro752]

ATA & Southwest MERGE!!!!! Hopefully!

ATA and Southwest Airlines are going to MERGE!!!!


EDIT: Hopefully!

 

[Pickle]

OK, where did this come from?!?!?

Willie: Did your parents drop you on your head?

Thurman: On my head? How can they drop me on my head??

Willie: No, not ON your...ARE YOU F***ING WITH ME?!?!?!?

 

[Metro752]

A little steer standing by the Wild Turkey Still told me so after I promised to give him a sugar cube

 

[Heavy Set]

A little steer standing by the Wild Turkey Still told me so after I promised to give him a sugar cube

I hope you are drunk or telling the truth about the merger because if you aren't you're a big jacka$$ for leading people on like that. There are many ATA pilots out there in limbo who would probably like to work for SWA if given the opportunity. Not professional if you jerking us around.

 

[LUVChild]

I bet my little steer can beat up your little steer.

I wouldn't put any bets on it. At a recent Message to the Field, Gary Kelly publically said that he had no plans or intentions of either buying or merging with ATA.
Don't jerk the nice people around, okay?

 

[Pickle]

SWA also said they wouldn't ever do a code share.
I am just saying.......

 

[Metro752]

Southwest is overloading flights out of MDW, instead of their planned 10 a gate a day, they do about 11-12 sometimes 13.

 

[Pickle]

I am on the front lines of this one, and I gotta tell ya, I don't think there will be a merger.

And THAT, my friends, is absolutely positively 100% no BS all my opinion and nothing but my opinion. I base it on nothing but my instincts, which, by the way, told me that a career in aviaiton would be just the greatest thing in the world!

 

[LUVChild]

SWA also said they wouldn't ever do a code share.
I am just saying.......

Actually, if memory serves me correctly, Southwest had done a code share before.

I'm all for making changes to our business model to keep us profitable and competitive. Code sharing is one thing; it made good business sense on many different levels.

At this point in time, I don't think acquiring ATA makes good business sense. There are enough challenges in this industry that we don't need to add to it by acquiring another airline - particularly one who has quite a different business model than ours.

I've always heard Southwest executives say that they'd rather grow Southwest internally, rather than through the acquisition (or merger) of other airlines. One of the big reasons they give is that acquisitions or mergers are hell on the employees. Even though the Morris Air acquisition was tame by airline industry standards, it wasn't without its bumps in the road. And the bigger the airline gets, the more difficult the integration becomes.

When you buy another airline, you buy more than just their planes, gates, etc. You also buy all their problems and mistakes.

I just honestly don't see Gary as being up for that type of a beating. Southwest has enough challenges to deal with anyway. Why add to the confusion by buying another airline? I think you'll see Southwest stay focused on slow and steady growth from the inside instead.

 

[Captain Overs]

I think this was a flame post. SWA would want nothing to do with ATA except gates and slots. Those who think it could happen are wishful thinkers. I wouldn't bet the farm on this one.

 

[SWA/FO]

MERGE.....how about buy-out

 

[capt. megadeth]

Metro,
PUT DOWN THE CRACK PIPE!

 

[In The Wind]

I guess we will know in December........

 

[Jetjockey]

What is the signifigance of December?

 

[flyhard]

Santa Claus comes.

 

[RightBettor]

Santa Claus comes.

Yeah, that's why Santa Claus doesn't have any children. He only comes once a year... and it's down a chimney!!

 

[In The Wind]

Code share was good for one year and re-news for seven if South West wants it, if not ATA is done.

 

[FlyBoeingJets]

Code share was good for one year and re-news for seven if South West wants it, if not ATA is done.

I still hoping it will turn out well for ATA. The high leases on the -800s hurt badly. These planes are in high demand worldwide and are difficult to deal on.

Sure ATA's future has much to do with SWA but I can't imagine a better partner for ATA. Isn't ATA still making good money on the military charter flights?? I find it hard to believe SWA wants to cripple or shutdown ATA.

In times past ATA would have gone the way of Midway. I think ATA has a MUCH better chance of making it than Midway did.

 

[SWA/FO]

I think ATA has a better chance of making it then US Airways (AWA) & UAL.

 

[atafan]

My insight, not that anyone cares.....

SWA does not need to buy ATA now or anytime soon. ATA is providing excellent feed to SWA and SWA is providing even more feed to ATA. The codeshare could not be working any better and all parties are extremely pleased. Load factors at ATA have been increasing dramatically and that includes airfare as well.

Facts:
ATA's military charter division is cranking very hard, providing for about one third of our revenue and all military flying is 100% fuel hedged. Much more international flying will be coming to codeshare with SWA within a year including hub cities in OAK, PHX, LAX, BWI, MDW, and MCO. 12 - 14 737-300,500s are on the way this year including 2 to possibly 4 - 767ers. At least one of the 737-800s scheduled to leave will be staying.

My Opinion:
Deep pocket investors will be pouring money into the operation soon and ATA/SWA operations will explode next year.

I expect ATA to be out of CH11 early next year with a strong partner with SWA, no need to merge the companies because the two companies will establish a strong symbiotic relationship as separate entities. Furloughed pilots hang in there I hope soon to have you all back!