Southwest to buy AirTran...

[SKC]

It is possible to hold two thoughts in mind at the same time- but I just haven't seen much to complain about here...

This isn't the perfect company but it's about as close to it as you'll find in this industry for what I do (dx). We have a great schedule, have reached the end of a 12 year union contract and STILL make more than the vast majority of other legacy/major carrier DX offices.

 

[jonjuan]

Yeah, it's awful here!!!!

and out come the apologists. :uzi:

 

[Lear70]

and out come the apologists. :uzi:

God forbid, differing opinions on Flightinfo. Sacrilege! Lol...

 

[Dolce]

It sucks when you post on a forum because you have to explain every post down to the minutiae to appease everyone! I like working for SWA...pay, schedule and benefits which are the best in the industry. But Herb isn't running our airline anymore...It's an accountant who seem to be looking for that magic number of 15% ROIC. Did you ever read the "scoreboard" in luvlines...it was demoralizing reading, after the first quarter, we were not going to reach the target numbers for the year. Who thought that was a good idea? When I watch the propaganda machine telling me our stock will be 20-22 dollars a share again, Hawaii(?) and massive growth are coming (Torti)...I just shake my head and laugh. I guess we really purchased AAI to get their IT department so we could operate outside our continental borders...that and their aircraft can also fly to locations with foreign ICAOs. Can a company apologist explain the RX program and how it actually helped SWA besides cutting cost...which now is questionable! I like Denver, but I avoid it like the plague! I really enjoyed the RNAV/RNP training. Now I need to bid to LBB or OKC to get ready for the check ride since those procedures are so widely used in our system or much less anywhere! Better yet, I can always practice on our training website via computer! I think I would have preferred ETOPS training because Torti and our NC said we were eventually going to Hawaii! Let me suffer emotionally and financially for a month or more because of a decision made by the Captain. Let's quit using judgement and waste deicing fluid because everyone is now gun-shy! Did I just see a snow flake or what is the guy next door doing because he may be a check airman?
My point we are starting to slowly turn into those other carriers and people don't want to admit or acknowledge that fact! I get first hand information from management pilots who talk of tribalism (e.g. OCC) and protectionism within SWA. Too many yes-men (Peter Principle) looking out for their positions instead of what's good for the whole. Where else can a ramper become a V.P., but this is SWA and America right? Did I mention the OCC and a certain employee group and the perceived encroachment on their jobs instead of what's good for the operation! Why would you want some pilots possibly "advising" others on what's maybe going on in the cockpit and the pilots
thought processes? I guess I'm just a " negative Nelly" glass is half-empty a$$hole, but GMAFB when I refuse to blindly walk to the stand to get my dose of the grape flavored koolaid! I'm here for the SWA, but all is not well and we may end up like one of those 5 airlines where Waveflyer was previously employed!

D

 

[waveflyer]

If we were at united- I'd be with you.

But please dont confuse southwest with other sh/tty places to work-
This place is a better place to work bc mgmt buys into a LOT of people oriented concepts that most corporations do not- and they put their money where their mouth is-
Every other airline did furlough in 2008-2009: they chose not to

Am I NOT supposed to be loyal now?

 

[Scope out RJ's]

My point we are starting to slowly turn into those other carriers and people don't want to admit or acknowledge that fact! I get first hand information from management pilots who talk of tribalism (e.g. OCC) and protectionism within SWA. Too many yes-men (Peter Principle) looking out for their positions instead of what's good for the whole. Where else can a ramper become a V.P., but this is SWA and America right? Did I mention the OCC and a certain employee group and the perceived encroachment on their jobs instead of what's good for the operation! Why would you want some pilots possibly "advising" others on what's maybe going on in the cockpit and the pilots
thought processes? I guess I'm just a " negative Nelly" glass is half-empty a$$hole, but GMAFB when I refuse to blindly walk to the stand to get my dose of the grape flavored koolaid! I'm here for the SWA, but all is not well and we may end up like one of those 5 airlines where Waveflyer was previously employed!

D

WOW! Finally, a realistic prespective minus the pompous ass attitude!
Bravo D!:beer:

 

[Dolce]

Wave,
We could be headed in that direction...it's a very slippery slope! I know we didn't furlough in 2008-2009, but how would that go over with the slow-rolling of contract negotiations and please don't tell me management wasn't doing that either! People oriented concepts? Mandatory doubles for rampers because of the RX program and no manning. Is management actually listening to it's people in the field or it's managers in the GO? I specifically asked the CEO this during a visit to our base...wasnt impressed with his lack of an answer. It was nothing more than management speak! Spoke with CM during "round table" discussions. My impression was he cared and was glad what the pilots were passing to management, but that maybe it had little affect because management was committed to the process of picking the low-lying fruit at all cost. Things are changing in this mature company and I care about my future and those I work with...even if the feeling is not mutual by those who are just happy with their station at SWA.

D

 

[johnsonrod]

It sucks when you post on a forum because you have to explain every post down to the minutiae to appease everyone! I like working for SWA...pay, schedule and benefits which are the best in the industry. But Herb isn't running our airline anymore...It's an accountant who seem to be looking for that magic number of 15% ROIC. Did you ever read the "scoreboard" in luvlines...it was demoralizing reading, after the first quarter, we were not going to reach the target numbers for the year. Who thought that was a good idea? When I watch the propaganda machine telling me our stock will be 20-22 dollars a share again, Hawaii(?) and massive growth are coming (Torti)...I just shake my head and laugh. I guess we really purchased AAI to get their IT department so we could operate outside our continental borders...that and their aircraft can also fly to locations with foreign ICAOs. Can a company apologist explain the RX program and how it actually helped SWA besides cutting cost...which now is questionable! I like Denver, but I



avoid it like the plague! I really enjoyed the RNAV/RNP training. Now I need to bid to LBB or OKC to get ready for the check ride since those procedures are so widely used in our system or much less anywhere! Better yet, I can always practice on our training website via computer! I think I would have preferred ETOPS training because Torti and our NC said we were eventually going to Hawaii! Let me suffer emotionally and financially for a month or more because of a decision made by the Captain. Let's quit using judgement and waste deicing fluid because everyone is now gun-shy! Did I just see a snow flake or what is the guy next door doing because he may be a check airman?
My point we are starting to slowly turn into those other carriers and people don't want to admit or acknowledge that fact! I get first hand information from management pilots who talk of tribalism (e.g. OCC) and protectionism within SWA. Too many yes-men (Peter Principle) looking out for their positions instead of what's good for the whole. Where else can a ramper become a V.P., but this is SWA and America right? Did I mention the OCC and a certain
employee group and the perceived encroachment on their jobs instead of what's good for the operation! Why would you want some pilots possibly "advising" others on what's maybe going on in the cockpit and the pilots
thought processes? I guess I'm just a " negative Nelly" glass is half-empty a$$hole, but GMAFB when I refuse to blindly walk to the stand to get my dose of the grape flavored koolaid! I'm here for the SWA, but all is not well and we may end up like one of those 5 airlines where Waveflyer was previously employed!


D

Where is General Lee? He would be applauding your honesty and lack of cockiness! Good for you, let the truth cleanse your soul.

 

[johnsonrod]

Wave,
We could be headed in that direction...it's a very slippery slope! I know we didn't furlough in 2008-2009, but how would that go over with the slow-rolling of contract negotiations and please don't tell me management wasn't doing that either! People oriented concepts? Mandatory doubles for rampers because of the RX program and no manning. Is management actually listening to it's people in the field or it's managers in the GO? I specifically asked the CEO this during a visit to our base...wasnt impressed with his lack of an answer. It was nothing more than management speak! Spoke with CM during "round table" discussions. My impression was he cared and was glad what the pilots were passing to management, but that maybe it had little affect because management was committed to the process of picking the low-lying fruit at all cost. Things are changing in this mature company and I care about my future and those I work with...even if the feeling is not mutual by those who are just happy with their station at SWA.


D

I have figured out who you are! You are Julian Asange, the founder of Wikileaks! Good for you finally bringing out the truth to the public.

 

[Full of LUV]

I have figured out who you are! You are Julian Asange, the founder of Wikileaks! Good for you finally bringing out the truth to the public.

I fear for Dolce's safety. This is akin to drawing a Islam cartoon in a public paper, for such heresy he will have to be hunted down and slaughtered in the name of the firm, SWA.

 

[johnsonrod]

I fear for Dolce's safety. This is akin to drawing a Islam cartoon in a public paper, for such heresy he will have to be hunted down and slaughtered in the name of the firm, SWA.

And he even admitted he didn't like going to DEN! Blasphemy! One thing he did leak was that not every Southwest pilot is happy, and it seems that will spread after the SLI. Unique culture? Hopefully you can retain that in the future.

 

[ivauir]

I fear for Dolce's safety. This is akin to drawing a Islam cartoon in a public paper, for such heresy he will have to be hunted down and slaughtered in the name of the firm, SWA.

Not on this site.

SWAHATE is the FI religion.

D posts his typical "woe is me BS" and the haters can't contain their giddiness. Keep in mind that D can't get elected cause the rest of the pilot group doesn't buy into his bitter BS.

 

[dicko]

This is getting freaky .......

 

[ivauir]

http://www.ajc.com/business/

ATLANTA BUSINESS NEWS 5:22 p.m. Wednesday, February 2, 2011Text size:
Decrease
Increase
AirTran haggled but saw few options

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution

AirTran Airways executives pushed for a bigger payout for shareholders over weeks of meetings with Southwest Airlines and were weighing potential options for alternatives just days before approving the merger deal.

Southwest’s chief executive, Gary Kelly, first called Bob Fornaro, his counterpart at AirTran, last April 21 to launch merger discussions, the filing says.But they concluded AirTrat didn’t have any options for other merger partners, according to a filing with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. It offers a few new details about the pending deal that will put Southwest in Atlanta for the first time.

Southwest offered $6.50 a share and AirTran countered with $8 a share, before the two sides settled on the $7.25 to $7.75 range that was part of the final deal announced in September.

At an AirTran board meeting in Atlanta on Sept. 21, AirTran financial advisor Morgan Stanley presented background on the airline’s efforts to grow, “and discussed its views regarding the lack of any other potential merger partners or financial buyers for AirTran.”

Among the reasons AirTran agreed to the deal, according to the filing, were the risks and competitive position of standing alone “in a consolidating, competitive industry,” and management’s view that “there were no realistic other potential candidates for an alternative business combination transaction.”

Terms of the deal were hashed out in late September and on Sept. 26 the boards of each airline approved.

Shareholder and regulatory approvals are pending, with an AirTran shareholder meeting set for March 23. According to the filing, several state antitrust officials have asked for information, but Georgia’s attorney general’s office, which does not have an antitrust section, is not among them.

AirTran and Southwest face several shareholder lawsuits seeking to block the deal and last week reached a memo of understanding to settle two of them. Details weren’t in the filing, but it said the deal called for additional disclosures to shareholders, along with payment of attorneys’ fees. The settlement would resolve claims challenging the merger, according to the SEC filing.

 

[dicko]

Southwest could expand overseas as early as 2012

By Christopher Hinton MarketWatch
2/3/2011 01:37:10 PM
Advertisement
<IMG border=0 width=300 height=250>
NEW YORK (MarketWatch) -- Southwest Airlines Co. could expand its near-international destinations as early as 2012 upon the delivery of its first Boeing Co. 737-800s, the company's chief financial officer said Thursday. The Dallas-based, low-cost carrier is also in the process of acquiring AirTran Holdings , which has flights to the Caribbean and provides needed experience in overseas flying, CFO Laura Wright said, during an analyst conference. "We're certainly going to learn a lot about those international markets with AirTran," adding that the 737-800 jet is a better aircraft for expanding international markets, "should we want to."

 

[jhill]

Yeah, it's awful here!!!!

So awful I just got paid 15 tfp for flying to PHL and DHing home. Less than 10 hours of duty. I wont get in to the pay. Viva VJA!

 

[FIREMAN]

Laura Wright– Southwest Airlines Co. – SVP Finance and CFO
Okay, so the question I think was how we see the Company evolving post-AirTran over the next two to three years.
Certainly, AirTran is going to be our significant — it's going to be a significant effort for us.
When we close, we anticipate we will have two separate airlines, but over time we will transition into one airline, one brand, one product. That's probably going to take two to three years.
We are very excited about the acquisition because we think AirTran brings a lot of things to Southwest. Certainly, Atlanta was an important, important piece to us. It's an airport that has limited access, and AirTran has a great presence there.
With Atlanta, we're going to be able to do a lot more with the rest of the Southwest network. For example, there's a lot of cities that AirTran doesn't serve out of Atlanta where Southwest has a huge presence. So we see opportunities there.
AirTran gives us more access to some places we couldn't get into, like Washington Reagan, so we're going to be picking up some flight activity there. It also allows us to grow our presence at New York LaGuardia with the slots that they have.
So, but I think for you to think about bigger picture is we will have a larger network. We will have more cities and the value that you get when you bring those together is exponential. We think we will be able to tap some markets, combined, between the two networks that neither of us would have been able to do alone.

 

[Ty Webb]

I would agree. If you look at places where we have only three flights a day, all to ATL, you have to ask, "What could the frequency be if we add connections to SWA cities? How many other point-to-point cities could we add? How many Business travelers would we add if we had more than three lousy flights a day?".

I'm thinking this deal looks smarter every day.

 

[CaptWidgeon]

dolce, +1

 

[FLYLOW22]

B737 service to Tokyo!!!