Midwest to make announcement today about future plans

[ultrarunner]

40% of the cabin is "premium" seating.

Md8-12/132



Not on these birds. Looks like everyone else's MD8.

 

[CitationLover]

Md8-12/132



Not on these birds. Looks like everyone else's MD8.

cmon, the majority of their fleet is 717's (almost 2.5 to 1 717 to MD80 ratio).

let's be honest, they're all DC-9's.

 

[FlyAirtran]

AirTran to Midwest: Imitation is the Sincerest Form of Flattery
Tuesday May 29, 707 pm ET
Midwest's plan to reconfigure seating arrangement on all aircraft in 2008 is a replica of the AirTran model

ORLANDO, Fla., May 29 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- AirTran Airways, Inc., a subsidiary of AirTran Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: AAI - News), today announced that the company is flattered by Midwest Air Group's (Amex: MEH - News) latest move to put multiple seating classes on all of its aircraft by the end of 2008. The proposed seating configuration for Midwest Airlines is the very same approach that AirTran Airways has employed for ten years.
"At AirTran Airways, we've always believed in offering our customers choice," said Joe Leonard, AirTran's chairman and chief executive officer. "Midwest's announcement today is an endorsement of AirTran Airways' business model, but without the efficiencies, cost structure or market strength of a larger, more dynamic route network."
"Furthermore, Midwest has a poor track record of execution and forecasting their financial results; less than 90 days into the year, they warned investors that they were going to be off their projected earnings for 2007, and today were again unable to confirm guidance for 2007," Leonard added. "Midwest has outlined a plan that will not generate returns for two years, if at all. They have outlined the choices shareholders face: the current value of the AirTran offer or a risky future plan in an uncertain industry. The time has come for Midwest's management to face reality and listen to the true owners of their company - the shareholders. The overwhelming majority of investors believe, just as we do, that the best course for Midwest going forward is to combine operations with AirTran Airways to form a truly national low-fare airline that has the cost structure and the business model needed to compete successfully in today's airline industry. It is time to get a deal done."

http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/070529/nytu152.html?.v=88

 

[ultrarunner]

cmon, the majority of their fleet is 717's (almost 2.5 to 1 717 to MD80 ratio).

let's be honest, they're all DC-9's.

Quite true. Interesting they're finally coming around that it doesn't make economic sense to fly these planes in low-density configurations.

By the way, the PR indicated this config change was "the next phase" of their strategic plan.

What phase are they on, and how many are there?

 

[ultrarunner]

...and today were again unable to confirm guidance for 2007," Leonard added.http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/070529/nytu152.html?.v=88

Hold on a sec, are you saying there is currently NO earnings guidance in place? I find that hard to believe. I'll go look at the last earnings release or update.

 

[CitationLover]

joe forgot to say, "look at how i ramrodded this nice TA down the airtran pilots throats. let's see if they have the guts to stand up to me and reject it."

 

[1800 RVR]

Don't you just love the way that Timmy and crew can make something so old sound new and revolutionary? I mean come on, it's just first class/coach configuration, for pete's sake! The ship continues to sink...