No SWA classes until Jan 2004..

[MLBWINGBORN]

Hey guys and gals..

Just finished reading the latest company mail..

I hate to say this..But they just said that there will be NO new classes until Jan of 2004..This is straight from Dallas..

Now..The good news is that it said classes will resume
in Jan of 2004..

Its sorta a half full/ half empty sorta thing..

But..I would bet a beer that we have at least one class in Dec 2003..

Any takers?

Mike

 

[Bake]

AND.... on the company mail is actually says that classes will resume in January 2004.

Not trying to overide you here Mike, just thought that sounded more positive for all the poolies.

Bake

 

[MLBWINGBORN]

You sir are very correct..I shoulda proof read my post..

I will change my post..Thanks for keeping me honest..

Mike

 

[PTinbound]

I don't know, Mike. Dave Edens sounded pretty firm on the "no new classes" this year on the employee newsline, so I'll take you up on your bet. But again, I think I'll choose to see it as half full.
At least we are not wondering anymore and can plan accordingly. Plus, I'm just barely senior enough to maybe get one last Christmas off at my current airline this year. And he did say "classes" plural starting in January, so let me be the first to guess January 5th and 19th for the first 2 classes. Anyone want to second that?
Another good thing: for the relatively senior poolies, waiting until January just means less time in OAK with lots of folks behind. If we got hired tomorrow we'd be in OAK until the end of February at least. Sounds like it's gonna be a great new year!

 

[SWA/FO]

"Captain Greg Crum has just completed a manning analysis concerning Pilot hiring. There will be no additional New Hire Pilot classes for the remainder of this year. New Hire Pilot classes will resume in January 2004."

Here it is...off the hotline

 

[CoopDog]

I'm hearing it now, but.....

I'll believe it later.


Just last week:

Chief Financial Officer Gary Kelly also said Southwest may dip into the used-airplane market or defer the retirement of older jets to seize new opportunities as larger airlines abandon some markets and shift service in other markets to regional partners.

"We're ramping up our growth," Kelly told reporters and investors during conference calls. "We feel like we're in a superb position. We're the low-cost producer in a low-fare world."

12 more new airplanes coming in '03, maybe some additional used ones, possible -200 retirement deferrals, new opportunities in abandonned markets, and ramping up growth...... And no classes until next year?

What the heck....it's only another 152 days until '04 anyhow. Seems like hardly nothing when you've crossed off 534 off the last two calenders. Anybody have an extra Sharpie?

 

[PTinbound]

Coop, I thought I was the only one counting the days....
Anyway, aged Kool Aid always tastes better, and this gives me some more time to look for that Kool Aid necktie I've been searching for for years.
If anyone offers the sharpie pick up an extra one for me!

 

[MLBWINGBORN]

It takes six to eight weeks to get a class out on the line..

If the folks that be wake up and decide to "ramp up growth" one morning it will take six weeks min to make it happen if they dont have any classes in the pipeline..

If they want to add planes quickly during the first part of 2004 then they need to have a class in the pipeline prior to the end of 2003..

Thats my W.A.G and im sticking to it..

Mike

 

[jimbo]

I agree with PT on the class dates in Jan. I'm planning a nice Hawaiian vacation before my class date. I'm putting my $$ on the Jan 19th class. 169 days to go...woo woo.
JimBeam

 

[Icebergclub]

Good News, Bad News......

Thanx for the info guys....It's really appreciated! I'd have to call this MORE GOOD NEWS than bad news though! I loved hearing classes will resume.........

Coop, PT, Jimbo........I am right with you guys, counting the days!! I'am heading out this morning to Costco to pick up my new box of Sharpie's!!!!!!!!

Oh yea, and my 2004 Calendar which I will rip out every month except January!!!! well, mabey I'll leave February too........(just in case)

Mike, I'm with you, I got my money on one class this December! These announcements always tend to the conservative side of things. Come to think about it, I think we all had this exact same conversation/bet last year..........

Hang in there guys......are day is coming!


Iceberg
SOUTHWEST ROCKS!

 

[CoopDog]

Come to think about it, I think we all had this exact same conversation/bet last year..........

I just hope this is our last annual reunion as SWA poolies. By the way, whatever happened to Tredding? Looks like my SWA poolie T-shirt is going to need an '04 stitched on it.

And oh yeah.....one more big X on the calender this morning.

 

[Sugardaddy]

Well, Jan 04. Splendid. Last year, when we were having the EXACT same conversation, on the same day, I bit off on a November 2003 class date. This year, I am going to stick with january.

The next SWA new hire class will be 5 JAN 2004

That is my take, and I am sticking to it.

This whole SWA pool thing is beginning to be a lot like the movie ground hog day.

 

[flying@swa]

Rumors of Growth....

Here we go....

We had a jumpseater yesterday that is one of the interview team guys... (for whatever that's worth to the validity of the following...) he has heard from somewhere that there COULD be as many as 500-600+ new hires in 2004. ALso adding that we may add as many as 1500 NEW pilots by the beginning of 2006.

Reasons given for the "explosive growth" are the VERY slow growth since 9/11 had slowed (almost stopped) our expansion plans that were already in place, and, opportunitys that are becoming available in the market today are compelling enough for SWA to grow rapidly to capture new customers.

50+ planes in 2004... another tidbit.... perhaps some used ones in addition to all that Boeing can supply. Most of the new routes will be long-haul coast to coast type stuff....

CoopDoggyDog....As for your T-shirt - I ran in to Tredding in DAL during school - he says no more shirts, but plans on being in DAL for beers with the next new hire class.....

Hang in there boys & girls, believe me the waiting will pay off with a GREAT flying career - this place is AWEsome!!!!

Fly'n

 

[AJWick]

Reuters News Article-Jul 21st

...Earlier on Monday, Southwest reported that net profit more than doubled in the second quarter, including aid from the U.S. government, and said it expects a higher third quarter profit than a year ago. Capacity growth is expected to be 6 percent to 7 percent in 2004....

They way I see it is that when the 3rd qtr numbers come out...SWA will ramp up for classes.

I still say 4th quarter is when SWA will gear up fellow poolies. Mike you maybe right about Dec, I can only hope for sooner.

Coop-This is our last annual reunion!!! We are going to be outta this pool soon...

Bring it on!!! I am sooooo done with changing diapers!!

aj

 

[Bill Nelson]

One in November for sure.

Don't forget. The training department has the ability to train 100 pilots per month now. (I believe this means 100 new hires and still be able to handle upgrades, recurrent, etc.)

 

[Sugardaddy]

OK, here we go again...

Let's see the latest bets

The only firm guess date so far is:

5 jan 2003: PTinbound, Sugardaddy and Jimbo.

We also have fuzzy estimates of:

? Oct 2003 : xXpress
? Dec 2003 : MILWINGBORN, ICEBERG Club

Any other takers out there??

 

[AJWick]

Who's your daddy?

Sugar-put me down for November 2003.

aj

 

[Sugardaddy]

5 jan 2003: PTinbound, Sugardaddy and Jimbo.

? Oct 2003 : xXpress
? Nov 2003 : Bill, AJWick
? Dec 2003 : MILWINGBORN, ICEBERG Club

To make it a little bit more sporty (all you guys who have only given a month), how about a specific day (as a hint they normally start classes on mondays).

 

[FL510GV]

Hey guys,

Just read through the thread and it helped me feel a lot better... I am coming up on 8 months in the Alaska pool and wondering when the uncertainty is going to end... That's nothing compared to what you've gone through... 534 days and counting - looks like some of you will be near two years by the time you're really hired. I hope you get classes soon. Keep the faith.

 

[Sugardaddy]

FL510GV,
If LL is correct with her estimates, it will be a little over 2 years ( 25 months or 658 days to be exact.) when I should dry off.

Here's to another 6 months of bobbin in the pool. I hope you get out of your pool much quicker.

 

[kelbill]

Jan 04 class date sounds about right, but with SWA, anything could happen, such as a class or two at the end of the year. As for the training department handling 100 new hires a month as old Bill Nelson said, from what I've heard, that is too high. I'm thinking 6-700 a year until the new sims are in and construction is finished (they haven't even started) on essentially doubling the training center. And 6-700 a year would be pushing it too, especially with upgrades starting again. And this is from a guy who only benefits from more FOs below me, figuratively). Good luck to all poolies and keep the faith. If you haven't gotten the type yet, I know its a risk and a lot of money, but do it. SWA will be hiring like gangbusters here soon (barring any Osama repeat) and along with Jetblue we will be hiring the majority of those who get hired in the majors for the next 5+ years.