Rumors are flying at LUV..

[MLBWINGBORN]

Man...What a week..

Ive read some of the various posts about the pilot/plane numbers and stuff and just decided to go and point blank ask a few folks myself..

I was told point blank..no BS..that we are going to hire AT LEAST 500 pilots in 2004...

I was also told that we just picked up 15 MORE 737-700s thanks to CAL not taking them..Look for more of these kinds of purchaces in the very near future..
The price of a new 737-700 from Boeing is now cheaper than you can lease a used one..

The rumor about a FA class starting is being heard everywhere..The time period of late Oct to early Nov with Nov being the most often talked about date..Lots of FA movement in the system with the focus on expanding the ranks in BWI..

Was told at least one new city with the possibility of a second and a new crew base with LAS being the front runner..

Was told that we could take 100 planes and connect the dots in the system and not open any new cities...

All of the coast to coast non stops are overbooked every flight..Look for increases in the long haul routes due to lower costs...

Flew a brand new 737-700 this week...Sweeeet!!

Look for more power for the 737-700s due to the new weights..

Everyone ive talked to was very excited about 04..

Mike

 

[firstthird]

Dumb question, but more power for the new 700s? New engines or different variant CFMs? Will SWA now have different 700s with different engines? Just being in the pool, sort of confusing looking in from the outside.

Firstthird

P.S thanks for the info, always nice to get some idea of what is going on.

 

[MLBWINGBORN]

This is a guess on my part based on my past experiences with the 700..
Power can be changed on the engines with some paperwork and a few minor changes on the fuel controller..I was told years ago that it amounted to nothing more than a big screw driver and a couple of clicks more on some control..

I dont remember the exact details but i do remember while at Midway we had several engines with different power available and at some point they were all made the same..I think some went up and some came down but they were all the same engine and the only changes were to the fuel controller..

Maybe someone with more background with the CFM can weigh in here but thats my guess and im sticking to it..

Mike

 

[Bill Nelson]

Is that 15 more Airplanes in addition to the new a/c announcement of several weeks ago?

 

[MLBWINGBORN]

I was told that these are in addition to those that have been reported..No details on how or when they may be put into the system..Sounded to me like a last minute thing..

It would not surprise me at all if we bought up a bunch and just parked them in the desert to take advantage of the prices..

But..Herb hasnt returned my calls...

Mike

 

[Bill Nelson]

Tell me more! I saw the post last week about the training department being asked if it could get 1000 through in a year, any more word on that?

With 15 more a/c, what would that bring the total number of a/c for 2004 up too and what would be the required number of new hires to crew them?

I am changing my guess to Oct. 20, 2003 for the next class

 

[AJWick]

Great news for poolies Mike.

When Herb returns your call....keep us in the loop.

thanks for the encouraging news.

I am still thinking 4th quarter for classes to start. any news on that rumour?

aj

 

[MLBWINGBORN]

Lets see..

Im trying to eat my egg sandwich here..

OK..
10.67 bodies per aircraft..I think the .67 is a Captain...Im still looking for that guy..!!

No details were discussed on when the additional planes may show up so i cant begin to guess on what impact they may have if any in the short term..Long term i would guess that every time we buy a fire sale priced Boeing the better the possibilites are of all sorts of growth..

If you look back at the history of SWA you will see that almost all periods of growth were kicked off by either a down turn in the industry or the ability to buy equipment or routes at firesale prices..

Right now we have all three happening at the SAME TIME..

All of the majors are cutting capacity..

There is no doubt that the industry is in or near the bottom of a down turn..

Boeing is having a large numbers of orders being re structured or cancelled outright.

And we have cash...

Mike

P.S..
I was kidding about Herb returning my calls..

I say this only because those of you in Dallas that read this board all the time..And we know you do..Might think i was serious...!!

 

[AlbieF15]

The connect the dots plan will be the death of at least one major out there... I'm not trying to be morbid but the other majors haven't even begun to feel the pressure SWA can and will apply as they increase transcons and offer even more city pairs for mid size cities.

Two things for you wannabes out there:

Type Rating! (Get it now before the rush)

Rob Beeks! (He's good and knows SWA inside and out).

I rant and rave to you out there because the furloughed guys in my unit are already tired of me telling them to knock out types and apply to SWA and/or to apply to JetBlue. The handwriting is on the wall for the what the airline industry will look like in 2010, and right now I think it looks like a lot of Canyon Blue, Polka dot tails (JB), as well as some AirTran and Frontier guys shaping the future.

 

[Swerpipe]

How about pilot interviews?

Any news on when interviews will resume based on the additional aircraft. Over 150 pilots over and above what was planned for next year... WOW

 

[MLBWINGBORN]

AlbieF15

Im afraid you are very correct..

I dont recall the exact words..But Herb has been quoted as having said that there will be two less majors before this is all over..

Just reading the financial data can give you a pretty good idea of who is near the top of the list..

If you want to work for SWA..Get busy...Get the type..Period..

The difference a year of seniority can make here is hard to even begin grasp when things start to happen..

But the thing that can have the greatest impact on your quality of life is timing..

Be close to the front of the wave and life is very,very good..

Short time on reserve...
Short time to the base you may want..
Shorter time to upgrade..
More money due to better schedule options..

Being the last guy out of the school house at the end of the wave can just plain suck..

Being on reserve for what may seem like forever..
Being in OAK far longer than you may want unless you happen to live there or close by..
Upgrading will be much,much longer than any of the guys in the first part of the wave..
And..Commuting while on reserve will impact your ability to earn more because you will have very limited options when it comes to moving your schedule around and picking up open time..

So..Again..If you are serious about working for what I think is one of if not the best run airlines out there..

Get busy..Get the type..Get good interview prep..Be ready when they call..

Mike

 

[HOUMAN]

Thanks for the "rumor" update mike. It is always good to hear from you (and Albie).
Were those 15 planes from CAL "options" or actual planes in the production line?

 

[RedC5Guy]

I e-mailed Rob Beeks about a week ago and have not heard back yet. Can anyone confirm his current e-mail address? I used [email protected].

Thanks!

Red

 

[Swerpipe]

I had a different one...

[email protected]

480 575 9310

 

[llowwelll]

Looking GOOD!!

 

[MLBWINGBORN]

Nice one!!

 

[Bake]

Mike, those are some good rumors. I was flying this last weekend and didn't hear all of those, however I did hear the rumor of 4 new cities next year. Captain said that is what was told to him in DAL from the HQ building.

I swear SWA is just like Santa Claus. They keep the best things under wrap and you can guess what it is but until that day you just don't know.

I can't stand it anymore.

Bake

 

[CoopDog]

Thought this was interesting....

Remember the similar announcement from Boeing earlier in the summer regarding an "unidentified" buyer? Maybe additional annoucements will follow.





Reuters
Boeing posts 5 orders for 737 jetliners
Thursday August 21, 1:20 pm ET


SEATTLE, Aug 21 (Reuters) - Boeing Co. (NYSE:BA - News), the world's largest aircraft maker, on Thursday announced orders for five new 737 narrow-body jetliners, including four to unidentified buyers, and one to Luxembourg's flag carrier, Luxair.
ADVERTISEMENT


At list prices, which are routinely discounted, the orders would be worth about $250 million.

Boeing declined to say when the aircraft would be delivered, or which sub-models of the 737 were involved. The 737 family includes four models capable of carrying between 110 and 189 passengers, depending on configuration.

Boeing has booked 151 new jetliner orders so far in 2003, including 129 orders for 737s.

The Chicago-based company, which runs its commercial jet operations from Seattle, booked 176 orders in 2002, net of cancellations, and has slashed production to match dwindling demand from airlines battered by an epic air travel slump.

Boeing expects to deliver 280 new jetliners in 2003, down from 381 in 2002, while rival Airbus SAS (XETRA:EAD.DE - News; Paris:EAD.PA - News) plans to ship 300 new aircraft, which would put it ahead of Boeing for the first time ever.

 

[Shav'r]

Futures so bright...

SWEEEEEEEEEEET!!!!!!!

Always great hearing from ya Mike! The swim-up bar is getting ever-so-close!

Shav'r

 

[Boz]

Got to admit it is nice to see a pleasant posts! Such excitement......I remember those days. I have a lot of friends on furlough and they are all saying the same thing. I just LUV this business!!!