SW Execs Boast They'll Conquer Delta's ATL w/ Air Tran Merger (& get a/c for Hawaii)

[CaptWidgeon]

All very interesting moves by Southwest.
What bamboozles me is that they are aggressively moving away from their successful business model by:

-Acquiring other airlines
-Acquiring other aircraft types (717s and talk of a "larger" airplane as referenced by OP's article)
-Moving into primary / largest airports in a metro area (EWR, ATL, DEN) instead of focusing on reliever airports

Southwest is going to be just another legacy carrier in 10 or 15 years with no first class.

A company that does not adapt to the changing world it operates will not survive. SWA is just changing within the world it operates.

both very good points, unfortunately i fear the first statement is more accurate than the second. wish it i didn't, but i do. for the first 30 yrs we adapted all from within, now our leaders think we have to go outside to adapt. same thing that has happened at the legacy's. interesting waters ahead.

 

[Mea25000]

If SWA puts 175 on a 800 it will fly with a lot of open seats almost year round excluding maybe the bay area

 

[Wesb737fo]

If SWA puts 175 on a 800 it will fly with a lot of open seats almost year round excluding maybe the bay area

You're so smart....you should run an airline.

 

[SKC]

-Acquiring other aircraft types (717s and talk of a "larger" airplane as referenced by OP's article)

That "larger airplane" is the -800. It's all but a done deal, so really it's more than just "talk".

 

[ATLplt]

Not according to independant studies. Less than a third is originating. ATL is 33rd on the list in pop, behind ELP, HOU, BWI, DAL, FTW, AUS, JAX, CLT, CMH, SJC, DET, SAT, NY, BOS, PHL, SFO, MEM, SEA, MKE, ect ect ect....

I just dont think its the golden nugget its played out to be. Largest in the south???? Whats the south in your world? Georgia?

What should have been said...METRO Atlanta is one of the most populated AREAS of the south.

The city limits of Atlanta are actually pretty small. It simply cannot annex any more of the surrounding municipalities...(nobody wants to be included in the city's problems). As far as why it would be a bit more of the golden nugget than you think, I suggest you read the "Economy" section of the Atlanta page on Wikipedia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlanta

The population of Atlanta is VERY misleading. "As of 2009[update] Atlanta had an estimated population of about 540,922 people. Its metropolitan area is the ninth largest in the country, inhabited by more than 5.4 million people. The Atlanta Combined Statistical Area has a population approaching six million, making it the most populous metropolis in the Southeastern United States." -Wikipedia.com (2010)

Six million people are just a few more than ELP.

 

[ultrarunner]

Hmmmm.....4000 nm ATL-HNL.....single isle, single-class....3 x 3 seating.....

yuuuummmyyy....

 

[Empennage]

They might be using the 700 to do that flying. Vote count Dec 1.

 

[obadie]

Hmmmm.....4000 nm ATL-HNL.....single isle, single-class....3 x 3 seating.....

yuuuummmyyy....

Delta Air LineAT7: 31"
737: 30-32"
767: 30-33"
777: 31-33"

Southwest Airlines*32-33"

Taken from Cheapflights.com

 

[DieselDragRacer]

What should have been said...METRO Atlanta is one of the most populated AREAS of the south.

The city limits of Atlanta are actually pretty small. It simply cannot annex any more of the surrounding municipalities...(nobody wants to be included in the city's problems). As far as why it would be a bit more of the golden nugget than you think, I suggest you read the "Economy" section of the Atlanta page on Wikipedia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlanta

The population of Atlanta is VERY misleading. "As of 2009[update] Atlanta had an estimated population of about 540,922 people. Its metropolitan area is the ninth largest in the country, inhabited by more than 5.4 million people. The Atlanta Combined Statistical Area has a population approaching six million, making it the most populous metropolis in the Southeastern United States." -Wikipedia.com (2010)

Six million people are just a few more than ELP.

Unless it has changed in the last few years "metro Atlanta" even includes a couple of counties in eastern Alabama. Sounds dumb, but is/was true.

 

[RJ Bum]

SWA is planning on 175 seats in the -800, I don't think that is cramming seats.

It's not that bad, I used to fly one that had 189 in it. I forgot the seat pitch but it was more than the "average" coach seats.