Southwest submits proposal to acquire Frontier Airlines

[Alcatraz]

Mergers are frequently messy. As a junior SWA guy I'm pretty uneasy about this.

HOWEVER, maybe the F9 pilots can teach the SWA pilots how to use automation, and fly a little international, since our flight ops management doesn't seem to understand it yet. That's something to look forward to!

 

[HalinTexas]

Don't worry alcatraz.

 

[IXLR8]

Is this a merger or SWA buying Frontier?

 

[johnsonrod]

Being the lowest pilot on the Southwest totem pole is still FAR preferable to being the top pilot on the Republic totem pole.

Great news if it actually happens for the F9 pilots. The one big negative for many of them: say bye-bye to your side-sticks and hello to traditional yokes again... You'll actually have to learn to fly again vs. just monitoring computers.

 

[Dash Power]

Is this a merger or SWA buying Frontier?

A buying of assets.....not a merger.

 

[Alcatraz]

Is this a merger or SWA buying Frontier?

The press release is written like it's a buyout, but when seniority lists are combined (and I DON'T KNOW if that's even likely), it's more like a merger from a pilot's perspective.

This could be great for all, or it could suck for some.

 

[slaquer5]

Is this a merger or SWA buying Frontier?

This Thread will go over 20 pages of pilots being experts on that.

 

[RedDogC130]

It is not a merger like NWA/DELTA....I hope it works out for everyone but we all know it rarely does.

 

[Ty Webb]

A buying of assets.....not a merger.

Not from the infomation being put forth. They are buying a functioning airline, not "some" assets. . . . . re-read the quote about how they " . . intend to operate it as a an airline".

The real question is will AirTran management come forth at the last minute and make a bid . . . or will we continue to be outplayed again?

Ty

 

[HighSpeed]

As an SWA pilot myself, I just want to say all of the employees are a class act and wish them well...... I hope this goes well.... (for everybody).

 

[StaySeated]

This has to be approved by the UCC and the BK court. With RAH on the UCC, any bid will have to be considerably higher for the court to approve the deal.

To correct earlier post, this is an acquisition. The RLA details how acquisitions are handled. This is also nothing like ATA, as they had already filed Ch. 7.

The only good news so far is that RAH, or SWA, or any other bidder can no longer state that "we were your only salvation, without us you would have liquidated".

If this offer does qualify and SWA prevails in the auction, the law requires several steps towards SLI.

 

[Colonel Savage]

UAL might as well close DEN hub today....if this goes through they have no chance making it in DEN with their cost structure. It will be BWI all over again...

UAL was IAD hub, not BWI.

BWI was USAir, which deserted said hub when SWA showed up.


For Frontier:

Being bought by RAH = Death

Being bought by SWA = Life

 

[Quiet Flight]

I have a few friends at F9 and I'd love to see them at SWA. This could be a win-win all the way around.

My 3rd year pay at WN is about equal to 14 yr F/O pay at F9 according to APC. That could be a big gain for the F9 gang.

Anyone from the Morris deal now at SWA care to chime in on how that was all worked out?

 

[Donald]

According to the press release, sounds like an eventual merger. Both operate independently for a period of time, then an eventual merge. I would like to know what the feelings are at F9. Do most prefer Republic or SWA? Personally I'm very optimistic about this. I commute on F9 and have always been very impressed with the people. I also have a few buds that work at F9. As with all mergers, hopefully it will turn out amicalble on both sides. If we win the bid, welcome aboard guys. I look forward to working with you.

 

[RedDogC130]

lets not turn this into USAIR

 

[BlackPilot628]

I see ATA written all over the wall. SWA knows that they are doing. Good Luck to all parties!

 

[Empennage]

Not from the infomation being put forth. They are buying a functioning airline, not "some" assets. . . . . re-read the quote about how they " . . intend to operate it as a an airline".

The real question is will AirTran management come forth at the last minute and make a bid . . . or will we continue to be outplayed again?

Ty

True. Just like AA and TWA.

 

[FIREMAN]

"Over time, Frontier Employees would be hired into Southwest as needed to support our fleet growth and expanded operations."

Notice it says "Hired into Southwest" not merged. How did pref hiring work out for the ATA pilots.

 

[Nevets]

I hope that SWAPA helps to make sure a fair seniority list integration rather than just letting F9 pilots get preferential interviews and end up at the bottom of the seniority list.

By the way, there was no mention of Lynx Aviation pilots.

 

[Vegaspilot99]

While I want to know where Lynx fits into this, I'm just happy to see SWA try to bump RAH out of the picture. I'm guessing they sell Lynx...Skywest maybe. Who knows.