Look for SWA to aquire AAI

[roughneck]

Look for Southwest to buy Air Tran now that the Midwest deal is dead. After all the time and effort, Air Tran was out bid by a quarter a share. Not much really.

Rumor has it SWA has approached Air Tran about a buyout, but wasn't interested in the Midwest assets. That is likely why AAI let Northwest "out bid" them by such a close margin. They are preparing to be bought by SWA.

This would be a positive for everyone. The AAI guys get our contract and a fence for their flying. SWA gets growth and gates in several major markets. SWA pilots get 1500 more pilots on the list.

 

[John Pennekamp]

Not!!!

 

[RIDETHELIGHTING]

Sounds good!! As long as we all keep our jobs it will be a great deal for FL.

 

[jws717]

Wow SWA in ATL? That would suck for Delta.

 

[CF34-3B1]

Wow SWA in ATL? That would suck for Delta.

it would suck for SWA pilots too

I thought I had eaten my last C concours Wendy's burger 2 years ago

 

[BigEasy]

Doubt it will happen but if it did, i made some good friends over there.

Lets just leave Coach and those on up out of the deal!

Bigeasy

 

[klr1395]

I assume integration (if you would call it that) would be much like what happened when SWA acquired Morris in 1993/94? Pay protect the AAI pilots but staple them to the seniority list? Lots of possibilities, but I think positives for those involved!

 

[bravodude]

AAI pilots have to re interview if you make it then you get put on a merged list. only way to go

 

[SWA/FO]

DOH.. you know what Homer says.

staple 'em...

 

[On Your Six]

Wow SWA in ATL? That would suck for Delta.

The opposite - it would suck for SWA in terms of efficiency. I guess their 20 minute turns would turn into 200 minute turns... DAL already competes with low-fare Air Tran and it does well because ATL is an international hub with feed going both ways. I would see ATL as a big downer for SWA because of the inefficiency and frequent delays. That said, SWA could absorb those additional 737-700s easily and SWA has stated that it is looking for growth opportunities. Plus, taking out Air Tran would remove another low-cost competitor from the mix (BWI and MCO overlap). You never know in this business......

 

[Tejas-Jet]

I assume integration (if you would call it that) would be much like what happened when SWA acquired Morris in 1993/94? Pay protect the AAI pilots but staple them to the seniority list?

If it was up to me...all AAI pilots would go to the top of the list for interviews. Only those who exhibit what we are looking for "culturally speaking", would be hired.

...if it was up to me...which it ain't...

 

[RedDogC130]

send them all to Vegas.

 

[Lear70]

If it was up to me...all AAI pilots would go to the top of the list for interviews. Only those who exhibit what we are looking for "culturally speaking", would be hired.

...if it was up to me...which it ain't...

Guess we should be glad that it's NOT up to you.

I thought the first post about that from bravodude was just flamebait... maybe not.

Re-interview for the job you already have... genius. And what will you do when you kill a large percentage of the pilots in the "interview" and you still have to staff those planes PLUS your deliveries?

Armchair CEO decisions don't always work out so well, huh?

Not that I believe this will happen but, if it ever did, I think we're going to have to be a little more "team players" than the attitudes that some are displaying here.

As far as stapling, it would suck for our senior CA's but, with some fences in to protect the guys who are due to retire and/or upgrade in the next few years as well as pay protection when the fences come down, by and large it wouldn't be a bad deal.

I still think we'll be more likely to merge with Frontier. Care to make a bet, roughkneck? :beer:

 

[HalinTexas]

Why? What does FL offer that WN can't get for themselves?

FL is largely a domestic carrier. WN is nothing but a domestic carrier and has slowed some growth. So why buy another carrier that's mostly domestic when you're trying to slow domestic growth?

If SWA buys anyone, it will be to expand internationally. Someone with a similar aircraft type(s), that's cheap to buy, and comes with all the required certificates, i.e. ETOPS, NATS, and foreign authorization, as well as all the managment and training required to operate.

 

[airlinepilot]

I JS on air tran between CLT and BWI....they do a good job of turning aircraft and getting passengers on/off the airplane. I don't thinkthey would have a problem in transitioning to the SWA model. As far as fences and list....I think SWAPA would not let too many fences stand ....staple with pay protection for everyone. I would think a nice pay raise for all the FO's and the Capt's pay would be protected.

 

[klr1395]

If they make AAI pilots reinterview, would they then require that they get types as well?

 

[John Pennekamp]

I can't believe all of you are even debating this with a degree of seriousness. The first post was pure flamebait to begin with.

There is no way FL and WN will ever merge. Besides it being colossally stupid for WN to take on the screwed up operation that ATL is, the Feds would never approve it due to the significant reduction in competition among LCCs in the Florida and Midwest markets.

Y'all are doing nothing but mental masturbation with this thread. You may as well speculate if it's going to rain in Phoenix today, then argue over who's forecast is more valid and how many homes will flood. But I'm sure it will go ten pages anyhow.

 

[Lear70]

Awww, c'mon, don't be a killjoy.

What else am I going to do cooped up at home?

Probably should get out and see a movie or something...

 

[NewmanF16]

I don't think a staple job would work very well, unless SWA plans on parking all the 717s...

 

[Daddy]

Fine...put me down for light rain and mist with only minor flooding in low-lying areas