Gary Kelly's ATN Comments at Message To The Field

[ASADFW7]

There is an awareness that this event has an impact on both pilot groups. Each percentage seniority within each pilot group will have be impacted. There are some percentages of each list that will be greater impacted. Making blanket statements for both groups does not do the discussions about this event justice and are far too simplistic and can easily be dispelled by either side. However, the SLI discussions will actually be much more complex then simple emotional blanket statements made here.

There are many suggestions and opinions that are relative but may not want to be acknowledged by the other side because they are incomplete in the big picture. There are still aspects of each opinion that are important.

 

[On Your Six]

Really, did the US pilots show that they'd have better career earnings than the AWA pilots--especially the furloughed US Air pilots? The US pilots' main point was that they'd put more years into the airline/their careers. Career expectations was a big factor. US pilots on the street stayed on the street, pilots getting high paying positions kept their high paying positions.

The USAPA people don't agree with the binding arbitration agreement. You shouldn't use them as a reference, they aren't credible. That Nicalau award doesn't help your case either. I wasn't at Delta at the time, but the way it was handled here might be a model your group should want to follow, for harmony sake.

OYS

 

[Ty Webb]

Ty, I think you'd be surprised at how many SWA FOs are demanding a staple..

Well, I'm sure there are some AAI guys with equally unreasonable positions who will be also be disappointed.

 

[400ADude]

No, what will happen is that he will use the slots and gates of Guadalupe Holdings and slowly close the operation down. SWA pilots will never see a furlough, but Guadalupe Holding pilots will. in fact, every one of those pilots could eventually be furloughed permanently.

Take the staple.

Let's only hope.

 

[kwick]

Staple the Domestic Southwest pilot
Group below the Airtran pilots and
Get it over with. Take the staple!

 

[kwick]

Go to arbitration, get relative seniority
And move on.

We're tired off these ridiculous opinions.

 

[texman]

Go to arbitration, get relative seniority
And move on.

We're tired off these ridiculous opinions.

How about reverse the list make all the SWA and AT fo's, captains and vice versa.LOL

 

[V1 ROT8]

That is better than DOH and less than straight relative. That is my guess on where the arbitrators may rule.

You think AirTran pilots are going to get better than DOH (or even DOH) at Southwest? You are dreaming.

 

[PapaWoody]

Go to arbitration, get relative seniority
And move on.

We're tired off these ridiculous opinions.

ROFLMAO...spoken by the guy with the most ridiculous opinions on the AAI side. Too funny.

PW

 

[redflyer65]

Go to arbitration, get relative seniority
And move on.

We're tired off these ridiculous opinions.

Stay at Guadaloupe Holdings making Airtran wages while all growth goes to Southwest.

Herb and Gary won't kill this place, if you think otherwise your dreaming.

Hoping for a good integration that ALPA doesn't completely screw up. They have a horrible track record.

 

[Juniority]

It seems that most of the possibilities being voiced/argued here don't take the economy (U.S. and World) into consideration. Up at Gary's level you'd better bet there's a "plan A" a "plan B" and a "plan C" in place for this aquisition.

I'm sure one of those plans is to discard Airtran entirely if the economy dumps again before the deal is done.

 

[Kharma Police]

Stay at Guadaloupe Holdings making Airtran wages while all growth goes to Southwest.

Herb and Gary won't kill this place, if you think otherwise your dreaming.

Hoping for a good integration that ALPA doesn't completely screw up. They have a horrible track record.

Yes, ALPA truly F-uped the DAL/NWA merger................

If you were a CEO which side would you grow?, the one with the cheaper labor force which happens to be entrenched in your last frontier at the Worlds Busiest Airport or the more expensive one which is already maxed out with no growth in the CONUS? If your senior FOs want to upgrade anytime soon, I suggest you support a speedy SLI and stop hoping and praying for a whipsaw.

 

[RedDogC130]

If you were a CEO which side would you grow?, the one with the cheaper labor force which happens to be entrenched in your last frontier at the Worlds Busiest Airport or the more expensive one which is already maxed out with no growth in the CONUS?

Ok...no I won't bite....that was just stupid.

 

[Kharma Police]

Ok...no I won't bite....that was just stupid.

No, stupidity is wishing for a whipsaw.

There's none so blind as those who will not see.

 

[redflyer65]

There's none so blind as those who will not see.

You might want to look in the mirror then.

We already know that when the ink is dry that all AAI orders are coming to SW, so how realistic is your view of growing Airtran? I'm just sayin.

DAL/NW? Really? Not even close to what we are trying to do here. SW/AAI career expectations and QOL are night and day, there's really no debate. Delta and NW was pretty close to identical.

If anyone can screw this up it will be ALPA.

 

[Captzaahlie]

...........

 

[Kharma Police]

You might want to look in the mirror then.

We already know that when the ink is dry that all AAI orders are coming to SW, so how realistic is your view of growing Airtran? I'm just sayin.

DAL/NW? Really? Not even close to what we are trying to do here. SW/AAI career expectations and QOL are night and day, there's really no debate. Delta and NW was pretty close to identical.

If anyone can screw this up it will be ALPA.

I have no trouble looking in the mirror and realizing I have no control over the situation. The sad fact is that SOME of you are actually wishing out of ridiculous spite, harm to not only us but to your own careers. Trying to point that out to SOME of you is like trying to convince a 3 year old there is no such thing as Santa Claus. Sooner or later they will learn on their own.

 

[redflyer65]

I'm wishing for a good integration all the way around.

I fear that ALPA will screw this up with irrational demands and some (not all) at Airtran will be inclined to follow them. Gary won't let ALPA hold demands over 35,000 employees at SW.

Hoping for good things.

 

[texman]

I have no trouble looking in the mirror and realizing I have no control over the situation. The sad fact is that SOME of you are actually wishing out of ridiculous spite, harm to not only us but to your own careers. Trying to point that out to SOME of you is like trying to convince a 3 year old there is no such thing as Santa Claus. Sooner or later they will learn on their own.

kharma come on, stop trying to be the old wise one here. I will agree AT has lower cost, but what you don't see (as a CEO in your own mind) is SWA is larger than AT. SWA has made profits and so has AT, but SWA has done it for a long time. We are not hurting at SWA. Without AT we would have grown. It may have taking longer but that would have been ok. I think your management realizes it can not compete and expand outside ATL. MKE/MCO mmmmmm ok I will give you that. You said that our senior FO's may want to speed this sli up so they can upgrade. Well Who say's you wont be a FO after this is all over and I and the JR SWA fo's are on the street.

Now what do you know about Whipsaw? Did you participate one time in your with a Whipsaw event? I hate to say it but GK will operate AT as long as he needs to. No threat, but go to Centerofaviation.com. Become a member and read all the Delta articles and interviews with the CEO. Delta is eyeing your 717's like a hawk and will be more and glad to take them off of SWA/AT's hands. Just think how this will help with Delta and their small RJ problem. Gen Lee is ready to take back scope and what a great airplane to do it with. I am sure for the DC-9 MX guys and pilots, this would be a cheap easy replacement for their old DC-9-30-88's. But you never know I may be your captain. So stop getting are FO's fired up with comments about a speedy SLI.

 

[texman]

I'm wishing for a good integration all the way around.

I fear that ALPA will screw this up with irrational demands and some (not all) at Airtran will be inclined to follow them. Gary won't let ALPA hold demands over 35,000 employees at SW.

Hoping for good things.

True DAT. I hate to see our FA's pissed off.