Southwest DIA, Frontier>DONE

[GuppyWN]

I have over 30,000 fellow employees that will continue to bust our tails to take care of our customers and get them where they want to go, when they want to go safely and efficiently with a smile on their face. Fuel hedges or not if we continue down that road we'll be just fine thank you.

Gup
SWA dude

 

[Porch]

And...your point worth noting is what?

 

[Marko Ramius]

Hmmph!

The UAL newhires of the 90's were told to look around and see all the future millionaires around them. They thought they were the untouchables. .

................I must have missed that speech. Is the million still available? Retro perhaps/

 

[FlyBoeingJets]

Most critically, the hedging contracts that have protected Southwest from spikes in the price of oil will offer less protection starting in January. Paying market prices for a third of its fuel needs could add as much as $600 million to its bill next year, according to an analysis by the federal Bureau of Transportation Statistics.

The airline is already looking at 2010, when its fuel hedges completely disappear, leaving it with a fuel bill that would be $1.4 billion higher than in 2005 -- an increase equal to 20 percent of its current revenue -- if prices stay the same as they are today.

How much does a high debt load hinder some airlines? AA, for example, has to pay $1 Billion/yr in debt servicing. And interest rates have recently gone up. The good news is revenue picking up will float everyones boat.

 

[GuppyWN]

Porch,

My point was in reference to the thread creep talking about how SW was in the crapper after the fuel hedges run out. I'm you ex-brother. I hope we are successful in Denver - but not at your expense.

Gup

 

[HPaul3]

................I must have missed that speech. Is the million still available? Retro perhaps/

I heard that speech in 2000. After the "Summer of Miscontent" at United, while escorting my wife on her first day there. It really happened.

If you think there are a bunch of people at SWA who share that kind of arrogant attitude, you're very mistaken. The common attitudes I've run into at SWA can be summed up pretty simply. They are:

1) "I'm very happy to be here."
2) "There is something special about working here and I am going to do my best to make sure this continues on."
3) "There are some excellent, worthy competitors out there will keep us on our toes, so we can't afford to slack off."
4) "What can I do to help someone else out today?"

That's just my experience. Peace.

 

[TexaSWA]

I heard that speech in 2000. After the "Summer of Miscontent" at United, while escorting my wife on her first day there. It really happened.

If you think there are a bunch of people at SWA who share that kind of arrogant attitude, you're very mistaken. The common attitudes I've run into at SWA can be summed up pretty simply. They are:

1) "I'm very happy to be here."
2) "There is something special about working here and I am going to do my best to make sure this continues on."
3) "There are some excellent, worthy competitors out there will keep us on our toes, so we can't afford to slack off."
4) "What can I do to help someone else out today?"

That's just my experience. Peace.

what he said

 

[SWA/FO]

Canyonblue has a chip on his shoulder! See it, there it is...its in all his posts and even his profile. Just kidding folks...

 

[cactuspilot]

F9 will be OK. They are one of the few airlines that actually have managers that know what they are doing.

 

[canyonblue737]

I know I'm going to get flamed for this, oh well....

I have nothing against SWA, but seriously, you guys are sounding like nothing bad can ever happen to SWA. Yes, it is a good stable place to work now. But you never know what the future might hold! How many 1999 hires at UAL thought they were set for life?

I hope you guys can remain sucessful in this economic climate, but I think you are all only looking at this from one side.

Flame away....

Did UAL in 1999 have 30+ unbroken years of profits and a history of a no furloughs? SWA's history and strong management leadership (and longevity of leadership) gives us additional confidence compared to others that the right choices will be made to see profits continue in the future. I also have confidence in the ability of all the employees of SWA to make whatever choices are needed in the future to ensure we all have jobs as long as we want or need them.

Do I think SWA is immune to the dangers and pitfalls that other airlines are currently suffering from? No of course not, it could all end tomorrow, but I think most here at SWA believe that we will continue to avoid these problems not because "we are SWA" but rather we believe the people of SWA will adjust as needed as has always been the case and is backed up by decades of proof.

All this said I hope this horrible industry downturn gets spun around and a bunch of airlines, SWA included, sees prosperity and job growth.