Houston Mayor OK's Hobby International for SW

[Flopgut]

Funny how chicago is supposed to be corrupt land of Obama- and california is lefty socialist, but free market Bush land Texas is the one that can't stop getting their hands all over the protectionist policies that hurt one of their largest and most successful airlines

Yeah, that is funny. It's even funnier that it always involves you guys. Wonder why that is?

 

[HalinTexas]

For the record. TX state government has been hands off, for the most part, concerning the WA and the HOU-IAH issues. It did play a part in DFW expansion, but that was at the behest of the DFW airport board and the cities of Dallas and Ft. Worth. Long story.

As long as WN ponies up the cash to build the terminals, I don't have a problem with it. CAL had lots of help expanding/upgrading IAH. If it is allowed, the lead story will be that there is no story.

 

[redflyer65]

It is exactly what you agreed to a few years ago in Dallas... City of Dallas didn't want to end up with FIS at both DFW and Love. You guys agreed it was a good idea. You're just doing this in Houston now because the city has weak mayor who is pissed off at UAL.

We elected to stay at Love because that was our original base, and eventually got 'punished' for it from Mr. Wright. We did well anyway. Those are the facts.

You really think Southwest singled out the Houston mayor to expand internationally? That's more than a stretch. We've already ordered the planes, we are going anyway. Houston can get on board, or some other city will. Just business.

 

[SWA Bubba]

First Paragraph: You do a nice job of helping to illustrate my point. Houston DOES NOT have to accomodate you! GK says "I just want a building permit", to paraphrase Wave, he says "how dare govt presume they can tell business what to do". The grant assurance decision specifically says the govt CAN decline to accomodate you. Read what United goes on to point out as further justification. IAH was built to accomodate all Houston international flights, it is no where near capacity, and the entire investment stands to be ruined because we can't staff both Hobby and IAH.

.

You only think I'm illustrating your point because you're assuming your spokeswoman's words to be gospel. They're not. The FAA requires that airports subject to its grant authority have to provide the service level requested except in the rarest of circumstances. Your company's letter tried to invoke one of those circumstances with the reference to A-County in Colorado. The exception MAY be carved out when one of a city's airports is "at or near capacity," and then they MAY designate one airport for a certain class or classes of aircraft. This does not apply. Neither of those airports are "at or near capacity." You personally have made the case that IAH has plenty of capacity, and I can tell you that Hobby has oodles of room as well. Just because YOUR company wants that Colorado case to be its excuse, doesn't make it true. And in fact, it's NOT true.

In general, you can't make an argument by saying, "this is what we want the facts to be, so therefore you're wrong." But that's what United (and you) are doing.

Bubba

 

[SWA Bubba]

Second paragraph: In both cases, all American and United wanted you to do was come to the main airport. That's synonymous with wanting to compete with you.

Also not right. American didn't want to compete with us. They (and other Texas airlines) wanted us to die so they didn't have to compete with us. That was true when we started in 1971, and true when we wanted to fly out of Texas in the later 70s. And what happened? Every one of their frivilous legal attacks were laughed out of court (Texas and federal) to the point where the Texas Supreme Court finally specifically enjoined ANY entity from trying to keep SWA from flying interstate using the court system. At that point, they had the Speaker of the House (representing Ft Worth; what a shocker) slip a new law into an unrelated bill to do what they wanted.

And as far as United goes, saying you want to compete with us, but only if we follow what YOU want us to do, is not competition at all. Part of your complaint here is that you may have to split your resouces, but then you want US to do exactly that. How is it a fair competition (which you proclaim is all you want) if your transfers walk to the next gate, but ours have to drive to the other end of Houston and go to a different airport? You keep harping on "fair," but you have never addressed this inequity, Flop.

How about this? YOU are allowed to fly domestic and international out of both IAH and HOU, and WE are also allowed to fly domestic and international out of both IAH and HOU. Now that would be fair, right? Then both companies are free to decide to split, or not split our operations.

Bubba

 

[SWA Bubba]

What is being described to us is that FIS and C&BP services for IAH will be strained to the point that process times more than double. Is that just suppose to be our tough luck? We built a facility that could be doubled right now. Hobby will run fine, it's small. IAH will be ruined. Is that what the govt is suppose to do?

This is another gross exaggeration (to be charitable) or blatant falsehood (to be brutally honest). It's being described to you all right, but it's being described by yourselves, in one of your talking points in your many letters.

FIS and C&BP services are determined by service requirements, and are not fixed. More international service (especially at a different airport) obligates the government (whose duty it is to support commerce) to add staffing as needed. And since part of each ticket goes to such costs, adding service adds to that income stream for which the goverment pays to supply that service. That is to say that our international ticket sales pays for our FIS and C&BP services. Yours pays for yours. If you're paying for your service through international ticket sales, and not getting appropriate levels of service, then your complaint is with C&BP, not us.

Also, it's estimated that our small international operation would require approximately 20 agents, and not until 2015. I'm pretty sure that the goverment can train 20 agents in the 2-1/2 to 3 years before they're needed. I'm also pretty sure that there's at least 20 Houstonians who would love to have a government job.

Finally, your last point above belies your actual complaint itself. How can you "double the facility" you have at IAH without straining C&BP services, but us needing 20 guys at Hobby will cripple IAH? Even if they took those 20 guys away from IAH (which they won't), how is that worse than giving the hundreds of guys at already stationed at IAH twice the amount of work? Apparently, taking 20 guys will "more than double" processing time at IAH, but doubling their work load won't? Logic is not working for you in this argument, Flop.

Bubba

 

[SWA Bubba]

.... When IAH ends up looking like Pittsburg, Houston falls into rust-belt decay because they can't attract industry, ...

Exaggerate much? Are you even listening to yourself? You sound ridiculous here. Houston is not going to fall off the map and fall into industrial ruin, because SWA takes 20 B737s full of tourists to Mexican resorts each day.

Did you stop and think that many other US cities have multiple airports that fly international, and they're doing fine? Here's a few for you: Los Angeles, Washington, New York, Chicago, Miami.... Why do you think it's not possible for Houston to do the same?

I tell you, if United is THAT precarious (is that what you're really afraid of?), then a stiff wind might send your company over the edge.

Bubba

 

[SWA Bubba]

I realize you don't think the govt should tell business how to conduct operations. And I might be able to agree. If you could also possibly agree that it is not the govt's job to bend to the will of one company that wants to do something that is of detriment to every other competitor, AND possibly the traveling public.

This is deliciously ironic. However I suspect that most people believe that you have this backwards: it's YOU guys who want the government to bend to the will of one company (United), that wants to do something to the detriment of a competitor (Southwest). And that's to keep us from flying our Houston passengers internationally. You guys already have something like 80% of ALL traffic into and out of both Houston airports combined, and something like 85-90% of the international traffic to and from Houston. THAT'S not a monopoly? THAT doesn't hurt the traveling public? And now you want the government to help you preserve your monopoly? To prevent you from getting any international competition from Southwest? That's pretty funny....

Bubba

 

[SWA Bubba]

Your second question? I don't know what to say... I mean for God's sake Wave, were all those SWA planes I saw at IAH for all those YEARS diverts or something?! YGTBSM Wave!! Is your brain not working today?! Southwest used to serve IAH!!! You actually going to tell me SWA never desired to do that?! It's was some kind of accident or your arm was being twisted!?

Go back and check your history, Flop. Southwest served IAH in the most minor of ways possible. Four flights a day between IAH and DAL. That's it; one city-pair. "All those SWA planes [you] saw at IAH" was actually one plane every now and again. It wasn't profitable, because our customers couldn't connect to anywhere else in our system (without taking a cab across town), so we stopped. Kinda' like they wouldn't be able to connect from our network to fly international if we "competed" the way you want us to. Your version of competition is for us to only be able to take Houstonians international, but none of the rest of our cities' customers. Gee, that doesn't sound too fair to me.

Bubba

 

[Flopgut]

You only think I'm illustrating your point because you're assuming your spokeswoman's words to be gospel. They're not. The FAA requires that airports subject to its grant authority have to provide the service level requested except in the rarest of circumstances. Your company's letter tried to invoke one of those circumstances with the reference to A-County in Colorado. The exception MAY be carved out when one of a city's airports is "at or near capacity," and then they MAY designate one airport for a certain class or classes of aircraft. This does not apply. Neither of those airports are "at or near capacity." You personally have made the case that IAH has plenty of capacity, and I can tell you that Hobby has oodles of room as well. Just because YOUR company wants that Colorado case to be its excuse, doesn't make it true. And in fact, it's NOT true.

United's spokeperson is making a valid point. I did not say it is "gospel", it's a good arguement. Remember, this all started out with Southwest claiming there was absolutely nothing that precluded them building what they wanted. Well, along with many other flagrant exaggerations SWA has made, we find out there is a possible rule in place that would stop a Hobby terminal.

You're right, IAH is not at capacity. Therefore an international terminal at Hobby would be superfulous. You have it backwards Bubba.

Also not right. American didn't want to compete with us. They (and other Texas airlines) wanted us to die so they didn't have to compete with us.

That's your version. When Braniff went back over to Love to match you leg for leg in heads up competition, SWA had them removed completely from Love Field.

Finally, your last point above belies your actual complaint itself. How can you "double the facility" you have at IAH without straining C&BP services, but us needing 20 guys at Hobby will cripple IAH? Even if they took those 20 guys away from IAH (which they won't), how is that worse than giving the hundreds of guys at already stationed at IAH twice the amount of work? Apparently, taking 20 guys will "more than double" processing time at IAH, but doubling their work load won't? Logic is not working for you in this argument, Flop.

Your numbers are WAY off. And the agents are going to come from IAH. Margins are so close, we need the agents working for every/all airline's customers, not divide them up and have an inordinately large number working for only SWA. That terminal is going to be 80% plus SWA exclusive use. (exclusive!) We're suppose to take agents off a job where they are working for ALL airlines and put the to work for you just you?

Did you stop and think that many other US cities have multiple airports that fly international, and they're doing fine? Here's a few for you: Los Angeles, Washington, New York, Chicago, Miami.... Why do you think it's not possible for Houston to do the same?

My prediction is a lot closer to being reality than what SWA claims their positive impact will be to the Houston economy.

Go back and check your history, Flop. Southwest served IAH in the most minor of ways possible. Four flights a day between IAH and DAL.

Hey, it's a reality. You don't pull out of many places, but you did IAH. And I'm sure it wasn't profitable. Had nothing to do with the WA in Dallas. It had to do with a competitor at IAH you didn't want to lock horns with. And one you still don't.