ALSF 2,
The problem of the returned fuel hedges for LUV is now their company is more or less on an equal footing with the rest of the industry. This has not been the case the last five years. Since 2003, LUV has not been so much of a great airline as a great fuel hedging company. The hedges have masked a lot of their internal problems.
As is well known around here, LUV’s fuel hedging strategy (whether by blind luck or by skill and cunning) created major headaches for the rest industry when Southwest was able to keep prices artificially low which continued to put the hurt on the rest of us as we tried to climb out of the 911 hole.
Now that advantage has been largely negated. With the economy in the dumps, their cash dwindling, and gas prices increasing; the next five years for Southwest will be very different from the last five.
I’m on record in this forum as being very disappointed with the direction SWAPA took when they had their “time in the sun” to do some very positives things for our profession and to set some high benchmarks for us all to aim for but choose instead to push toxic items such as Age 65. Now their window of opportunity is starting to close if not slamming shut.
I just hope SWAPA is able to tow the line on what their management wants to do with international code share. If your union losses on that one, we’re all pretty much screwed.
Because of the continuing threat to our careers, APA has taken a very hard line on the AMR/BA/IBERIA deal. Over the years, code sharing has proven to be of very little value for the American Airline pilots in regards to pay, growth, and jobs and instead has proven to be a big win for management and the consumer. It like we’re on a slow melting iceberg. Perhaps the Northwest of UAL guys could chime in here on how their codesharing has positively or negatively impacted their careers.
Over the next few years, SWAPA will be severely tested. I sincerely wish them the best of luck. Our careers depend on it.
AA767AV8TOR
imp:
