Hawaii Throw Down?

[msmb]

Had an FAA inspector in the j/s and he said SW is no where close to getting ETOPS approval because of their MX and engine/part tracking. Maybe they can start this process with the new 800's they are getting but this will take some time.

 

[chris69]

Since it's all rumor anyways, what we were told by the new Director of Training:

- HI still on for 3Q2013
- 8 west coast cities to 4 HI cities.
- Need a sizeable -800 ETOPS fleet to start, min 28 + (?) A/C.
- Not all 33 -800's coming this year will be ETOPS.
- Gary wants to get rid of B717 which may push back HI, but fleet size will remain same or grow since -3/500's will be kept longer if B717 goes away.
- SWA has some leverage with Boeing due to the pop top and taking the PR brunt for a week before Boeing mea culpa. This is the crux of A/C negotiations and some of the reason ETOPS -800's will be ferrari vice pinto, as SWA used to always buy.

Ran into some of the IT consultants at the Renaissance prior to recurrent. Below is a summary of their opinion:
- Fixing IT is a top priority.
- Unfortunately, SWA runs it like a Mom and Pop organization.
- Insulated employees who have been with SWA a long time are way beyond their depth.
- SWA hires new people on the cheap.
- They should just fire everyone and start over.

The guys I ran into were in their 20's, very sharp and loved the discounts they were getting at the bar. Seemed like their work ethic/party ethic fit right in. Probably too expensive for SWA to hire them instead as the IT dept and fire the current crop. Really a shame.

 

[fam62c]

There has to be better places for SW to make money than Hawaii, the yield will be so low with all the competition it won't be worth the investment.

 

[Poahi]

There has to be better places for SW to make money than Hawaii, the yield will be so low with all the competition it won't be worth the investment.

That's been the case for decades, but on the inter-island side, fares are rising, Hawaiian has close to 90% of the market, go! is small and shrinking and Island Air is timid. If there was a time, this is it. Sooner or later, someone is going to jump in.

 

[slatsnfive]

That's been the case for decades, but on the inter-island side, fares are rising, Hawaiian has close to 90% of the market, go! is small and shrinking and Island Air is timid. If there was a time, this is it. Sooner or later, someone is going to jump in.

Island Air "timid??" Better read the business section of yesterdays Star Advertiser. And that's just what they want the media to know for now, more to be revealed. You stand corrected.

Respectfully,
slatsnfive

 

[fam62c]

That's been the case for decades, but on the inter-island side, fares are rising, Hawaiian has close to 90% of the market, go! is small and shrinking and Island Air is timid. If there was a time, this is it. Sooner or later, someone is going to jump in.

Anything involving Hawaii just seems to be out of SW's depth and the yields must be low. Anything can happen but why now all of a sudden, with everything else that is going on, does SW want to get involved with Hawaii? Where is their advantage in this market over other carriers? There just seems to be plenty of competition here already with more coming before SW can get there. As far is inter-island is concerned, that's a whole other ballgame, it might be easier to just buy Hawaiian.

 

[SKC]

- Not all 33 -800's coming this year will be ETOPS.

First 28 will be ETOPS. Final 5 of this year will not.

 

[CesnaCaptn]

Island Air "timid??" Better read the business section of yesterdays Star Advertiser. And that's just what they want the media to know for now, more to be revealed. You stand corrected.

Respectfully,
slatsnfive

Can you post a link to this article or do I just have to go through my grandma's old ones on my next HNL layover?

 

[outerlimits]

I am willing to bet that is whats going to happen

 

[Full of LUV]

Since it's all rumor anyways, what we were told by the new Director of Training:


- SWA has some leverage with Boeing due to the pop top and taking the PR brunt for a week before Boeing mea culpa.




Ran into some of the IT consultants at the Renaissance prior to recurrent. Below is a summary of their opinion:
- Fixing IT is a top priority.
- Unfortunately, SWA runs it like a Mom and Pop organization.
- Insulated employees who have been with SWA a long time are way beyond their depth.
- SWA hires new people on the cheap.
- They should just fire everyone and start over.

The guys I ran into were in their 20's, very sharp and loved the discounts they were getting at the bar. Seemed like their work ethic/party ethic fit right in. Probably too expensive for SWA to hire them instead as the IT dept and fire the current crop. Really a shame.

You think Boeing has guilt over SWA taking PR hits on 737 MX?

Every IT consultant thinks that the current crop of IT at any company is full of #$#^#^ and doesn't know anything, that's why they are consultants, because they always have the talk down pat.

 

[HAL]

Can you post a link to this article or do I just have to go through my grandma's old ones on my next HNL layover?

http://www.aviationpros.com/news/10689948/new-planes-to-fuel-island-air-upsurge

HAL

 

[slatsnfive]

Can you post a link to this article or do I just have to go through my grandma's old ones on my next HNL layover?

Article, your welcome.

http://www.staradvertiser.com/busin..._to_fuel_Island_Air_upsurge.html?id=146624425


slatsnfive

 

[puddlejumper101]

I think it is all about IT. Until we get both networks linked up between SWA and Airtran, most all other things are on hold. It is mind blowing that SWA can't figure out how to do this codeshare/linking all of this. If I were Gary Kelly heads would be rolling. As soon as SOC was granted, that same day the switch should have been made. That should have been priority number one. I think that's unacceptable.

 

[booo]

Since no one else has said it:

There is NO money to be made between the 49 states and Hawaii. It is a VANITY market. The pax on those flights are cashing in their frequent flyer miles. Anyone that bought a ticket just helps defray the costs of the flight. But if an airline doesn't serve Hawaii, what incentive does a frequent flyer have to fly with them?

Six hour legs, one mx cycle, just feed in jet fuel. Nice bargain for the carriers.

Inter-island? Natives rarely want to go to the other islands; and are afraid that natives from other islands are there to steal their (shellfish)(forgot the term). There is a lot of inter-island jealousy amongst the natives, and they stay home.

You can get direct flights to all 5 islands from the mainland.........most tourists decide on an island before they leave; Who wants to spend a full day of their vacation packing up, checking out, going to the airport, traveling, checking in and unpacking again at another shade of Paradise?

THERE IS NO MONEY TO BE MADE SERVING HAWAII !!!

 

[igneousy2]

Since no one else has said it:

There is NO money to be made between the 49 states and Hawaii. It is a VANITY market. The pax on those flights are cashing in their frequent flyer miles. Anyone that bought a ticket just helps defray the costs of the flight. But if an airline doesn't serve Hawaii, what incentive does a frequent flyer have to fly with them?

Six hour legs, one mx cycle, just feed in jet fuel. Nice bargain for the carriers.

Inter-island? Natives rarely want to go to the other islands; and are afraid that natives from other islands are there to steal their (shellfish)(forgot the term). There is a lot of inter-island jealousy amongst the natives, and they stay home.

You can get direct flights to all 5 islands from the mainland.........most tourists decide on an island before they leave; Who wants to spend a full day of their vacation packing up, checking out, going to the airport, traveling, checking in and unpacking again at another shade of Paradise?

THERE IS NO MONEY TO BE MADE SERVING HAWAII !!!

Not sure if this is flamebait...but I'll take it...

No money to be made? You keep thinking that...and tell all the airlines that aren't flying to Hawaii yet (i.e. SWA/VA). Your're right...Alaska has SOOO MANY frequent flyers racking up soooo many miles that we allocate 1/5th of our flying for the sole purpose of them having someting to redeem there miles on. The rest of Alaska's route structure is also SOOO profitable that we can take a virtual 100% loss on 1/5th of our flights and still end up being the most profitable major.

Another profitable airline...Hawaiian...only flies to or from points in Hawaii...not only generates a revenue but makes a profit by only allowing people to redeem miles?

Inter-Island Natives never fly interisland. You're right...we just meet our families in Vegas! Those 20 flights from HNL-OGG that are full almost everyday...those are just non-revs and people that are building there miles so they can go to Vegas. People don't REALLY want to go between the islands though.

Your last point about being able to get anywhere non-stop is correct though...which at the end of the day is the real reason there is only Hawaiian left.