New U/Seagull Rumor

[LearLove]

I herd this from several diff. people at 2 diff. U hubs/focus cities today. Just hear-say but I'll pass it along for $hits and Grins....

Seagull to leave U at the end of the month

 

[eaglefly]

After their latest financial results, perhaps he sees the inevitable "writing on the wall".

Taking his cash and bailing BEFORE the collapse, so he doesn't get the blame (and the resulting career baggage) for U's demise.

 

[AA717driver]

Heard that U's VP/Finance told an ATA(not Amtran...) conference call that they were near "insolvency".

For what it's worth.

And that was before SWA's announcement.TC

 

[Heavy Set]

One word: Yikes!

I hope it doesn't happen. Plus, I'd love to see those new EMB-170s flyin' around...

 

[SWA GUY]

Companies Seagull has left in the last 7 years:

Continental
Continental Express
Buget Rent-A-Car
USAir ???

Anyone see a trend here???

 

[iflyhigh]

Looks like Segal career in the past 7 years looks like that of some pilot friends. Only difference is they were furloughed a few times.

Its a shame that Segal, along with alot of other CEO's, don't care about the company, only their pocket book.

 

[Heavy Set]

To be fair, Seagull has done a few positive things for USAirways - it really was DOA when he arrived. It didn't have a plan and it was very bloated. Sure, a lot of pilots are in pain and without good pensions as a result, but at least USAirways seems to have a partial strategic direction... Turnarounds are inherently NASTY. Southwest's entry into the PHL market can't be good though...

 

[Conquest Driver]

US Air

US Air is a lot like Great Lakes IMHO, they are very hard to kill. They run the shuttle from NYC to DCA and BOS and they have a good hold on many North East airports with high load factor and good yeilds. In reality 4 gates at PHL which is already served by AirTran and just about every other airline in the US will not make a hudge difference to US Air. If you look at ticket prices US Air is not far off or is the same as Southwest on most destinations. (use the .com saver web sites and you will see what I mean) Also US Air will fly to all the same places Southwest does out of PHL so the "point to point" travel will not be that big of problem. Southwest operated out of STL for a long time before TWA went chapter 11 and that was part of a deal set up by AA. Some of the people on this board think that US Air is going to file Chapter 7 the second SWA starts service in PHL. I think it is more of a hope than a real possibbility

According to many people on this board United and US Air should have been gone a long time ago. Well they are still here and I don't think either one is going anywhere. IMHO the largest reason for that is the code sharing going on in the industry. Southwest doesn't code share with anyone that I know of(please correct me If I am wrong) and US Air and United do. Granted both have a ways to go to be profitable again but the economy is improving and a high tide raises all ships so I think not much is going to change in the next 2-3 years while all the majors are getting healthy again. After that, I think you might see US Air get bought up by someone or merge with another airline. Just my.02$

CD

 

[SWA/FO]

I think U's costs are still to high, with nothing left to cut. Look what happen in BWI.