Southwest In Talks With Chicago Midway About More Gates

[SWA_Proud]

Lowecur......now that was low!

 

[flint4xx]

Now THIS is entertainment. 2 points Lowcur.

 

[Boeingman]

Dang..... What did I miss from LowIQer?



Was it some harrowing tale of woe just barely escaping from a door to door sale of a life insurance policy?

A saga regarding the agony and defeat of paying out some claim on a car wreck?

The disaster of a feeble attempt at gaining knowledge about aviation at the end of the runway watching the airliners takeoff........ and LowIQer ran out of tissues?

Was it a huge bar room brawl between LowIQer and some other dolts in the insurance industry over the intricacies and use of their personal pump devices?

Was it a tale of a brawl over that disease ridden, toothless barfly at the Holiday Inn during that last insurance convention?

Did he tell us about the barfly's trailer trash husband (assuming it was a woman he met) knock the "rest" of LowIQer's teeth out?

Did LowIQer actually even make it back to the trailer with her? (Com'n people, got to give him credit over this catch...especially with all that tough competition at the insurance convention)

Was it a description of the difficulty, pain and suffering over the completion of LowIQer's mail order insurance career course?

Was it a story of LowIQer's deep depression that he always meant to get the locksmith course instead and therefore would be of a higher position in society than insurance sales?

Did LowIQer actually wreck the Cessna during his $49 intro flight?

Was it another attempt to make us jealous over LowIQer's wealth? (Incidently LowIQer, I probably blew more money in Jet A and expenses with my own airplane this month than your entire salary).

Was it a snippet of some highly classified insurance discussion during his circle je.....excuse me....... round table discussion?

Did he find a good polyester suit sale at JC Penny?

Did he rip his new polyester suit during the above mentioned bar fight?

And now he is banned for 3 days??????? Moderators....how could you do this to us?

 

[canyonblue]

Game, set, match Boeingman

 

[Boeingman]

Game, set, match Boeingman

LOL!

That makes it 2 to ZERO. Interesting, zero,... a very appropriate term for him as a matter of fact.

I should know better than to argue with him anyway. When you make fun of someone so, shall we say, mentally challenged........... it is not ethical.

 

[Ty Webb]

I would be more concerned about quarterly profits at Airtran than gates at MDW or the end around plan.

Ouch. We have a loss one quarter in the last ten, and you're right there to remind us, huh?

SWA had a lot going for it when it was the "underdog". Hope you guys learn to grow into your present spot as "Top Dog". There is plenty of room for us to coexist at MDW, just like BWI and PHL.

As many have pointed out, this is not only a cyclical industry, but companies have life cycles, too. Right now you guys are definitely at the peak. Hope you stay there a while, but don't forget that big dogs tend to get old and arthritic eventually.

 

[AFcitrus]

I think SW figured they had just about put ATA "out to pasture" from MDW, and rightly so. And then along comes this "3rd quarter loser" who makes a behind the scenes deal to keep some competition still intact for the great people of Chicago. (Granted most of the routes we will fly will not compete with SW) The next thing you know SW is "gunning" for those same gates using the "look what we've done for you lately" line with Mayor Daley. I too think AirTran and SW can peacefully exist at MDW. I'm just not so sure SW thinks it's long term MDW plans include another LCC there.

Cheers

 

[Jim Smyth]

While it is always good to keep an eye on the competition and there will be other success stories out there, so far our biggest competeion has been the automoblie. We have a very solid game plan that isnt broke and hasnt changed in over 30 years. We can add 40+ flights to our Chicago schedule without getting "ANY" more gates from the City. We are only adding 16 flights in the first quarter of 05. We obviously dont need alot more gates if any. Come on up to Chicago...... Please!

 

[brew3departure]

MDW Expansion

It's interesting that people are talking like SWA financed the entire renovation and rejuvenation of MDW. If memory serves, it didn't quite go down like that. Yes, SWA was largely responsible for the surge in flights not too long after they wanted to close MDW (as someone correctly stated, after Midway Airlines was flushed/etc to Northwest), but several years passed where every airline was operating out of the old fashioned, one story terminal from the depression-era WPA days.

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I was under the impression that ATA funded quite a bit more of the recent renovation of MDW -- and let's not forget that ATA has been there since/before SWA in the first place.

-brew3

 

[TexaSWA]

I think SW figured they had just about put ATA "out to pasture" from MDW, and rightly so. And then along comes this "3rd quarter loser" who makes a behind the scenes deal to keep some competition still intact for the great people of Chicago. (Granted most of the routes we will fly will not compete with SW) The next thing you know SW is "gunning" for those same gates using the "look what we've done for you lately" line with Mayor Daley. I too think AirTran and SW can peacefully exist at MDW. I'm just not so sure SW thinks it's long term MDW plans include another LCC there.

Cheers

We serve many cities where we are pretty much the only game, and we are yet to run prices up. Making airtravel affordable for everyone is what SWA is all about. That plan will not be abandoned reguardless of how few or how many carriers serve a market.

Competetion is good for consumers, but dont think that AirTran is saving the day for the people of Chicago. They are in no danger from SWA whether we are contested or not. Daley is well aware of this. This is why cities line up to knock on our door rather than vice versa.

 

[HPaul3]

Ouch. We have a loss one quarter in the last ten, and you're right there to remind us, huh?

SWA had a lot going for it when it was the "underdog". Hope you guys learn to grow into your present spot as "Top Dog". There is plenty of room for us to coexist at MDW, just like BWI and PHL.

As many have pointed out, this is not only a cyclical industry, but companies have life cycles, too. Right now you guys are definitely at the peak. Hope you stay there a while, but don't forget that big dogs tend to get old and arthritic eventually.

Wow...early-onset arthritis, what a shame. Only 33.

Ty and AF,
Two things I would never bet against:

1) SWA's ability to adapt to the market, whatever or wherever the need; and

2) Mayor Daley's absolute power. He is probably the second most powerful man in American politics and what he chooses will come to pass. I'm confident his relationship with SWA is stronger and more significant than with any other carrier except perhaps UAL. But SWA makes money.

Competition is good for everyone, so bring it on. Just don't be too sore if your vision of reality at Midway doesn't come to pass.

Cheers,
HP

 

[mdf]

Yes, everyone must hurry to keep SWA from having a MDW low fare monopoly.

 

[FLB717]

I've never seen the SWA folks get so angry, nervous or what ever this is. Must be something to it, that they feel threatened or what not from AAI. My personal opinion is more that enough room exist in MDW for all of us. Unless this is just a ego problem on one side or both. Me, I could care less as long as money is being made.

 

[SirFlyALot]

""""""

 

[FL717]

We serve many cities where we are pretty much the only game, and we are yet to run prices up. Making airtravel affordable for everyone is what SWA is all about. That plan will not be abandoned reguardless of how few or how many carriers serve a market.

Competetion is good for consumers, but dont think that AirTran is saving the day for the people of Chicago. They are in no danger from SWA whether we are contested or not. Daley is well aware of this. This is why cities line up to knock on our door rather than vice versa.

AirTran CEO Joe Leonard has stated repeatedly that SWA is and always will be the 500lb gorilla. He has stated numerous times that in order for ANY airline to successfully compete in the airline industry, you MUST be able to compete with SWA.

Looking at the SWA track record... I think it speaks for itself. It is NO doubt that they have proven themselves.

This leads me to believe two things:

1. AirTran management has picked SWA as their role model, and if your going to pick a role model, I can think of no better model than 30+ years of success.

2. That an airline CAN thrive successfully with profits for 30+ years and this gives me hope that maybe AirTran can be as successful, and 20 years from now I will be as happy.

Only time will tell.

 

[SWA/FO]

"we have got to protect this house!!!"

I'd say SWA is watching closely. We are not delta, we will not give up real estate. I believe we can co-exist just like FedEx, UPS and DHL

Now, if your guys would stop charging for the 2nd jumpseater things would be much better.

 

[SWAdude]

As many have pointed out, this is not only a cyclical industry, but companies have life cycles, too. Right now you guys are definitely at the peak. Hope you stay there a while, but don't forget that big dogs tend to get old and arthritic eventually.

This could be true. I have been at SWA 10 years and had heard that every year. Are we at our peak? If so we have been at that peak since I have been here. Who knows how long we can be there. Hopefully till at least my retirement.

SWAdude

 

[mdf]

HP,

To say that Mayor Daley is the 2nd most powerful man in American politics is more than a little bit of a stretch. He may be very powerful in Chicago and Illinois politics and he may hold some sway above that. You may be right that he ends up siding with SWA in this deal. However, it's hubris to suggest that he has that much influence on a national level. I'm guessing that you live in or near Chicago. Sounds like a case of perceptual bias.

SWA is powerful but so was UAL five or six years ago. SWA's real strength is it's culture. You guys are now nearly the highest paid pilots in the industry after your recent raises. You are attracting everyone and their brother to apply the same way that UAL did five or six years ago. Many (not all) of these folks are lured by the pay.

Also, don't forget that another cornerstone of SWA's culture is the underdog mentality. You guys aren't the underdog anymore. Now, other airlines are afraid of being crushed or squeezed by SWA.

Your airline is programmed to double in size by 2012. It is going to be a huge challenge to grow the culture along with the airline. That challenge will only be complicated when you have brought on a large portion of your pilot force with dollar signs in their eyes and the company has shifted out of it's underdog status. If SWA loses it's culture then you guys lose the whole bag.

SFA,

I believe you are half correct. The other side of the equation is CASM. If we can't keep it well below .08 cents and lose the culture, then we go the same way as those before us.

 

[FL717]

Real nice..

Now, if your guys would stop charging for the 2nd jumpseater things would be much better.

Not that your little stab has ANYTHING to do with this thread. You just couldn't resist from taking a jab at us could you?

 

[FarginDooshbahg]

Now, if your guys would stop charging for the 2nd jumpseater things would be much better.

I don't think their "guys" have any say in the matter. Any more than "your guys" have any say about requiring a 737 type rating to be considered for interview or employment.

But a typical remark. Why not take whatever shot you can at another pilot group? However, was that the best you can do?