ATA's White Knight = SWA? H. Hegeman Opinion

[habubuaza]

I thought that ATA was flying 75's iternational out of MDW? Also, I know that with our 737-800 configuration we would have no problem going to either coast full. 180 pax+6 crew=186. I don't know the numbers for the 737-700 that SWA flies but, I am sure it's close to the 800.

The 700 will have a longer range.

 

[75M]

FL 737s have 137 pax seats plus a crew of five.

 

[Boeingman]

You just don't get it sometimes.

Sometimes?

 

[lowecur]

Sometimes?

Hello Boing!

I see you're gonna have to take a haircut. Ooops, there goes the Mercedes for you and the wife.

 

[Boeingman]

Hello Boing!

I see you're gonna have to take a haircut. Ooops, there goes the Mercedes for you and the wife.

"Gonna" LowIQer? I'm sorry did I miss a union vote by ALPA to this effect? The recent announcement has met with considerable friction and resistance from the pilots. I'm not worried about the potential "haircut". The Benz's (as well as everything else I own) are paid for.

Doesn't matter to me anyway LowIQer. Even if CAL were to fold it would just give me more time to fly my airplane and concentrate on my business.

It certainly is nice to see others have zeroed in on your striking and uncanny ability to stick your foot in your mouth.

P.S. Have you been spending much time at the end of the runway lately stroking yourself watching the airplanes take off?

 

[PastFastMover]

MDW is unsuitable for any but short range operations. Could make it to JFK most of the time, Florida some of the time and the west coast not at all.

MDW is certainly a critical airport both in winter and in the heat of the summer. But a number of airlines have flown for years to the west coast, Florida and the east coast. Blue Dude, are you limiting the operation to certain types of aircraft. The 737, 80, 757 and who knows how many other more modern aircraft operate out of the airport safely. I just talked with a relative that flew Southwest from MDW to SAN last summer. I do believe it was a non stop. I jumpseated on Midway airlines many many years ago to LAX. I don't recall stopping for gas on the way. An unforgiving airport to be sure, but operations are conducted year round safely to all points in the USA.

 

[canyonblue]

Select non-stop service and move mouse over MDW.


http://www.southwest.com/travel_center/routemap_dyn.html

 

[Blue Dude]

Blue Dude, are you limiting the operation to certain types of aircraft.

Yeah, I meant that a fully loaded 320 can't make it out of MDW with enough fuel for those things. Limit the passenger load enough and it's possible, but no longer economic. Several aircraft types can make it work, though.

 

[B6Busdriver]

In Holly's world SWA is always the white night. After all her brother flies for SWA so she can't be biased. I wouldn't read her crapola newsletter even if it was still free.

 

[atafan]

ATA's B737-800s regularly fly non stop from MDW to SFO, SEA, LAX, CAN, capable of carrying 173 passengers. The only time you start to be load limited to the farthest airports is when the temp at MDW rises in the mid 80s and then you might limit the load to around 160 passenegers.

The performance capabilities of the aircraft is why ATA chose the B737-800 over the Airbus.

P.S. I am right about the above info but dead wrong about picking AWA as ATAs buyout partner, it was a fun ride though.

 

[FlyBoeingJets]

ATA's B737-800s regularly fly non stop from MDW to SFO, SEA, LAX, CAN, capable of carrying 173 passengers. The only time you start to be load limited to the farthest airports is when the temp at MDW rises in the mid 80s and then you might limit the load to around 160 passenegers.

The performance capabilities of the aircraft is why ATA chose the B737-800 over the Airbus.

P.S. I am right about the above info but dead wrong about picking AWA as ATAs buyout partner, it was a fun ride though.

I seem to remember carrying 170ish out of MDW to guadalahara (sp). Long flight with a bleeds off T/O with temp at least 85+. The 800 with 27k engines is a wonder.

 

[FlyBoeingJets]

Holly also hinted that Jetblue may show up at the bidding process. It is beginning to look more and more like these gates are going to get split. The question is who will get what? Southwest's real objective here is not so much to get 5-7 more gates, but to make sure that AirTran doesn't get all 14. How about 4 gates for Jetblue for $60M, 2 gates for Southwest for $30M, and 9 gates to AirTran for the $90M?

JetBlue needs to have the 190 for operations out of MDW from more than 1 or 2 gates. Why? Stage length. The 320 is cheaper than SWA's 737-700 on longer flights. I can't remember the length but it is over 1200 miles. But you have to fill the seats on the 320, another potiential issue, for the longer flights to be cheaper than the -700. The 190 will be cheaper on the shorter flights than the -700. The -700 will have a medium stage length that will beat the 320 or 190 on efficiency.

No 190, no big MDW operation for JB.

 

[FlyBoeingJets]

JetBlue needs to have the 190 for operations out of MDW from more than 1 or 2 gates. Why? Stage length. The 320 is cheaper than SWA's 737-700 on longer flights. I can't remember the length but it is over 1200 miles. But you have to fill the seats on the 320, another potiential issue, for the longer flights to be cheaper than the -700. The 190 will be cheaper on the shorter flights than the -700. The -700 will have a medium stage length that will beat the 320 or 190 on efficiency.

No 190, no big MDW operation for JB.

Read the other thread about SWA being ATA's white knight. The real purpose will be to encourage ATA to continue operations out of MDW. I believe the 737-800 is more efficient than the 320 on the long haul to West coast. The SWA/ATA combo may effectively keep JetBlue out of deploying 320s at MDW.

 

[FlyChicaga]

How do you ignore a poster? I don't have anyone on my ignore list yet, but that is about to change. Bye bye, lowecur.

 

[lowecur]

JetBlue needs to have the 190 for operations out of MDW from more than 1 or 2 gates. Why? Stage length. The 320 is cheaper than SWA's 737-700 on longer flights. I can't remember the length but it is over 1200 miles. But you have to fill the seats on the 320, another potiential issue, for the longer flights to be cheaper than the -700. The 190 will be cheaper on the shorter flights than the -700. The -700 will have a medium stage length that will beat the 320 or 190 on efficiency.

No 190, no big MDW operation for JB.

Hi Boeing.

Yes, in my opinion Jetblue needs at least 4 gates to run the 190 efficiently and give it the toehold it needs to compete in Chicago. I think you underestimate the draw the 190 is going to have on pax. With a BELF of 60%, running full 190's to Chicago will be a big money maker. The immediate question is does Jetblue need Chicago as a focus city now? That question will be answered in the next week or so. If they decide not to get involved in the bidding process today, they probably have pretty good information that Daley plans to muck things up for ATA, or they see better opportunities elsewhere.

If Chicago is only in Jetblue's immediate future for a few flts from JFK, then I believe they are making a strategic mistake. I firmly believe that ORD gates will be tied up for the next 5 years at least. If SWA ends up with 5-7 gates, will AAI withdraw their bid? My guess is no. They will be very happy to take 7-9 gates at a pro-rated price. The question is will SWA use those 5-7 gates to expand into some of AAI's key cities, or will the codeshare with ATA initially hurt AAI? If SWA allows AAI to coexist (as in BWI), then Jetblue will not have a major presence in Chicago in this decade (and Gary Kelly would be very happy).

You just may see B6 look to attack AAI in ATL with the 190's. This is kind of a backdoor approach to getting into Chicago, but one that could certainly weaken AAI in the future. Time will tell.

 

[FlyChicaga]

Ya know, I really wish I could read what you said, but I found out how to ignore you. Not reading your drivel is like that feeling you get after taking a big dump... refreshing.

 

[lowecur]

Ya know, I really wish I could read what you said, but I found out how to ignore you. Not reading your drivel is like that feeling you get after taking a big dump... refreshing.

Next time remember to take your drawers down. Your fellow pilots get tired of flying with the windows open.

 

[Boeingman]

Next time remember to take your drawers down. Your fellow pilots get tired of flying with the windows open.

LowIQer, now I know you probably are drawing on the vast well of aviation knowledge here but in real life, what you're proposing cannot happen since airliners are pressurized. You've probably based this absurd reply on what you saw by watching the "Airport 77" movie when George Kennedy opens the cockpit window inflight on the Concorde to fire the flare gun right?

Unlike how the old women (with bowel problems) you try and pawn insurance on roll down their kitchen window from either your B.O. from that unwashed polyester suit or a load in their drawers, it is dumb scenario for the airliner board.

We must consider the source of the attempted, yet so lame, flame.

 

[lowecur]

Lowecur, now I know you probably are drawing on the vast well of aviation knowledge here but in real life, what you're proposing cannot happen since airliners are pressurized.

Well obviously you've never flown in a DC-1.

Let me ask, do you fly with or without your toupee? Most DC-1 pilots must wear their hats when the windows are open.

 

[Boeingman]

Well obviously you've never flown in a DC-1.

Let me ask, do you fly with or without your toupee? Most DC-1 pilots must wear their hats when the windows are open.

Even you, as lame and limp wristed as you have proven yourself to be each time you post, can come up with better material than that.

Point - Boeingman