Southwest Airlines to Acquire AirTran; Spreading Low Fares Farther 6:55 am - PR Newsw

[Tristar]

Let me be the first to say "Southwest Sucks!"

 

[i fly boxes]

wow southwest now flies international - to the carribean!

 

[GuppyWN]

wow southwest now flies international - to the carribean!

That's actually pretty funny.

Gup

 

[SkiFishFly]

Wow. Just freakin wow. I don't know for sure but I feel like I just won the lottery. At least this should take all the worries of an impending strike off the table.

 

[jetvison]

Looking forward to working with the SWA folks on the merger. At face value (whatever that is) this could be a great thing.

 

[skidbuggy]

Anyone remember Muse Air? Or the heartburn experienced with the acquisition of Morris?

Time to turn the seatbelt sign on... I think it's going to be a bumpy ride.

I hope it works out for both sides.

 

[johnsonrod]

Wow. Just freakin wow. I don't know for sure but I feel like I just won the lottery. At least this should take all the worries of an impending strike off the table.

Seriously, good luck with it as I hope it works out for you. Ironically, you sound very much like some Frontier pilots I know two years ago...

Let's hope the integration is fair - no staple this time around!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[737tanker]

Can someone clarify something for me. With the new laws, I don't think SWA can just staple us to the bottom. I believe there has to be some kind of integration, even if its not favorable to the AAI guys. Is that correct?

Since SWA is acquiring more than 50% of AirTran the new law says that the list must be merged on a "fair and equitable basis". In some cases that could be a staple, in other cases it could be DOH. In the case of SWA and AirTran I think it will be whatever an arbitrator decides!

 

[DIAMONDDD]

Airtran guys....get used to some tools telling you that you should be thankful for whatever they give you because you are lucky to have a job. SWA pilots are a good group of people, but, for some reason, some pilots can't help themselves from being complete DBs.

 

[yoyoma]

Airtran guys....get used to some tools telling you that you should be thankful for whatever they give you because you are lucky to have a job. SWA pilots are a good group of people, but, for some reason, some pilots can't help themselves from being complete DBs.

hahaha! if i had a nickel for every ahole capt who told me this at swa i could retire at 59 instead of 65

 

[CFIT]

I think PCL is shaking like a whore in church, he loves slamming SWAPA.

it will be interesting to see how much ALPA helps, now that they are losing yet another pilot group.

 

[Ty Webb]

Hope you boys like LBB and 8 legs a day!!!!

Hope you guys like Mo-line and Gulfport . . .

 

[Lear70]

Lets get 'er done. Welcome aboard. I wonder if the 717 folks will have to PFT??

OK, I don't care who you are... that's funny!

It will all work out. There will be no furloughs, it just doesn't make any sense. We're dramatically understaffed compared to Southwest's staffing model, and they won't be dumping the 717's before the leases are up, if they do at all.

Heck, they're talking about HIRING next year even AFTER the integration... maybe just talk, maybe not, but I'd bet they have aggressive expansion plans into the Caribbean and Mexico/South America region.

I'm stoked, you should be, too. Looking forward to joining all my PCL friends who went to Southwest the last couple years and flying together again, even if they might be sitting in the left seat before me... it's all good, I'm just here for the pay and QOL.

 

[Tweaker]

Snapshot:AAI

AIRTRAN HOLDINGS, INC.

(up 58.90%)as of 10:18:33am ET 09/27/2010


Damn! That is just this morning!

 

[FDJ2]

You guys might be missing something here...it is an acquisition not a merger.

You might be missing something here. The nature of the transaction is not relevant.

 

[UALRATT]

(Oberstar's head will probably explode).

I just busted out laughing:laugh: :laugh:

I don't think he will make it to the end of the year. MASSIVE myocardial infarction.

 

[WayBack]

I think PCL is shaking like a whore in church, he loves slamming SWAPA.

it will be interesting to see how much ALPA helps, now that they are losing yet another pilot group.

Predictions on:
how long it takes to strangle Delta out of ATL?
how long until Delta furloughs?


Ask the Midwest guys how much ALPA helped them.

 

[ATLplt]

I think this COULD be a kick-ass operation if we can come together as one team without a ton of shots lobbed from both sides.

The 717 is staying, my opinion only. It's the perfect airplane for small markets, it's cheap to lease/own, and you've got close to 1000 pilots already trained on the thing. I see it doing hub and spoke out of larger western bases as well as high yield NYC/BOS stuff.

This may be a great thing for all of us, and I welcome working with SWA guys and gals in the future. We're all cut from the same "can do" attitude, and are use to fighting the legacies for our slice of the pie. Now, with close to 700 airplanes, I think that fight can be brought with some authority.

 

[BMW]

OK, I don't care who you are... that's funny!

It will all work out. There will be no furloughs, it just doesn't make any sense. We're dramatically understaffed compared to Southwest's staffing model, and they won't be dumping the 717's before the leases are up, if they do at all.

Heck, they're talking about HIRING next year even AFTER the integration... maybe just talk, maybe not, but I'd bet they have aggressive expansion plans into the Caribbean and Mexico/South America region.

I'm stoked, you should be, too. Looking forward to joining all my PCL friends who went to Southwest the last couple years and flying together again, even if they might be sitting in the left seat before me... it's all good, I'm just here for the pay and QOL.

Couldn't agree more! Let's cash some nice checks and hope this is all done before the last of 1-2-3 deals is gone.

 

[FDJ2]

I am by no means an expert but isn't that what the TWA guys were thinking.

You're right about one thing, you're not an expert. AAI is not TWA, the laws have changed, and there will be a fair and equitable integration.

If the Frontier pilots couldn't be bullie, I very much doubt the Airtran pilots will. Airtran ALPA has some very talented folks in their MEC, I'm sure they'll do fine.

 

[Cowboy75]

I wish both groups the best. Hope it turns out to be a win-win raher than a win-lose like some recent mergers (acquisitions).

Good luck!

 

[Sandhawk]

I wonder how many Frontier guys are regretting their choice to hose up the SWA buyout earlier this year?

 

[StopNTSing]

Good luck to those at airtran with less than southwest's required 1,000 PIC.

Wrong! There were several Morris Air dudes that didn't even have a 73-type when we bought them, yet we took every one of their pilots.

Welcome aboard guys...with the possible exception of PLC128, Max Powers, Kharma Police, and a few other assorted malcontents. We're all in this together now and it has the potential to be a great deal for both groups. Fasten your seat belts, it's gonna be an interesting ride.


P.S. Get ready to finally ditch your hats, watch your dues drop to 1%, get a nice raise, and say goodbye to the red-eyes.....and that's just for starters!

 

[terrehautesux]

I still have little faith with how SWA will treat us considering I'm former ATA. Pilots say one thing and SWA Mgmt. showed another. I hope they treat us fair this time around.

 

[WayBack]

Welcome aboard guys...with the possible exception of PLC128.......

Oh man, that's hysterical.
He bashes SWAPA so much, I'd like to see him try to explain this one!
It's even funnier that everyone knows who he really is!

 

[d.fitz]

You just described Delta Air Lines between 1926-1990.

Well said! Exactly what I was thinking. Past performance is no indicator of future results....

 

[maxblast72]

Skywest can go ******************** themselves. I mean in the nicest possible way Per the WN contract there is no codeshare allowed.

Gup

No need to get excited. Airtran and Skywest both had the ability to end the current deal with 120 day notice. Looks like Skywest can anticipate a notice 120 days before the deal officially closes.

 

[BoilerUP]

I'm stoked, you should be, too. Looking forward to joining all my PCL friends who went to Southwest the last couple years and flying together again, even if they might be sitting in the left seat before me... it's all good, I'm just here for the pay and QOL.

You get reinstated yet? PM if ya want...

 

[Amish RakeFight]

nom nom nom....

 

[General Lee]

Wow, that is GREAT for all of you! Enjoy guys! Have a FANTASTIC DAY!!


Bye Bye--General Lee