SWA airplane deliverys

[SWA GUY]

CP-HOU told me the other day that we are getting 90 -700's in 30 months.

That being said, 11.5 crews to every plane, equals 1035 pilots in 30 months.

Further, if this is correct, we will have to put 30 pilots in class every month, and that ends up being 345 pilots for 04.

This doesn't take into consideration the removal of the remaining 25 -200's. But, it also doesn't take into consideration age 60 retirements or forced medical retirements.

I hope this is correct for you poolies and for us FO's.

Me thinks the fuse is lit!

HC

 

[CoopDog]

Yee Ha!

Kind of surprised nobody jumped all over this one. So I'll do it.

"HOT DIGGITY DAWG!"

Just can't wait to fly one o' them puppies!

 

[AJWick]

sorry coop, sorry swa guy,

I think most of us were so involved with trying to win the "bet" that we overlooked this thread.

Those numbers you give are definitely great news for all us poolies. I believe I speak for all of us in here that we know 2004 is going to be an exciting year.

But can we make 2003 especially 4th qtr to be the beginning of the excitement? I'd like to win the model airplane.

aj

 

[Mugs]

I hope you won't be sending too many of those airplanes in the direction of MDW. I was just reading that delays have become so bad there that MDW ranked 30th out of the 31 largest "hub" (I know you guys hate that word) airports for on time performance. Mayor Daley is blaming the TSA, and the TSA is blaming the facilities for the problems on the security side of the trouble. MDW sure has changed from the post Midway #1 days in the early and mid 90s. Officials from SWA and ATA have publicly stated that today's problems at MDW are having a significant impact on their day to day operations.

 

[SWA GUY]

That's strange about MDW's ranking. I go through MDW several times a month and I don't usually have ANY delays.

There has been some crummy wx blowing through this summer, maybe the results of the report are based on quarterly or month over month delays?

The worst airport consistantly for me has been STL. But, I think things will change when AA cuts their deps/arrs in half.

HC

 

[dhampton]

I'd say construction and weather have been the biggest contributors to delays at Midway.

 

[NDPILOT]

Here's a question for you SWA people that i don't understand.

Why is it that SWA is only allowed to fly to bordering states from Love field? A better question maybe, why can't i fly from DAL to PHX non-stop? Does it have to do with DFW at all.?.

Thanks

 

[General Lee]

I believe it is due to the "Wright Ammendment" which limited the flights originally to the contiguous states around Texas, and I think that was changed to include a couple other states like Alabama. The ammendment was trying to help out AA out of DFW I believe.

Bye Bye--General Lee

 

[Swerpipe]

It called the Wright Amendment

Under the terms of the Wirght Amendment (1979) the so called Love Field Compromise-no airline may provide non-stop or throught plane service out of Love Field to any city in any state beyond the four states immendiately bordering Texas: Louisiana, Arkansas, Oklahoma, and New Mexico. Southwest cannot advertise, publish schedules, check bagagge or publish though fares to any other cities. This was a way to penalize airlines refusing to move to Dallas Fort Worth. That's all.

 

[SWA GUY]

You are correct Swrpipe.

In addition(for the others wanting to know), the Wright Amendment was established prior to SWA entering business. So, when SWA started business at Love, we felt it didn't apply to us. SWA never signed any agreement to move from Love to DFW, simply because we didn't exist when the deal was made. However, we must abide by the agreement, and we do. And we don't have any plans on contesting it, or even worrying too much about it. What was in the beginning a hindrance to SWA, became something of a boone to SWA. As now it kinda protects us.

I hope this makes sense....

HC

 

[Snoopy58]

The Wright Ammendment came AFTER SWA started operating, at the behest of AA & the doing of Jim Wright (then speaker of the House of Representatives, and a #&$% if there ever was one). Initially, the "deal" was that everybody operating at Love would move to DFW. SWA was NOT in buisness when THAT deal was signed, so SWA never signed it. Originally, SWA only operated inside Texas & was regulated by different body -- a Texas commission instead of the Civil Aeronautics Board (who regulated most aspects of interstate air commerce). Deregulation happened, and SWA expanded, potentially becoming a threat to American. They wanted tighter restrictions, and the compromise in Congress was the Wright Ammendment. Partly, it was to protect DFW, since everybody who had signed the deal was paying a lot in fees to fund its construction, and Love would be a cheaper alternative. Largely, it was AA trying to put the screws to SWA.

It only applies to airlines flying jets with more than some number of seats (like 50 or 70); that's why the RJ's can fly Love to ATL & such places direct, and why Legend could fly out west (until AA outfitted F-100's with the same # of seats & ran the fares down until Legend choked). Never understood how they didn't get nailed for predatory behavior on that one.

So, to get from DAL to PHX, you have to be on 2 separate flight numbers (although they should be able to check your bag all the way -- a concession to the security hassel of going out to reclaim & recheck your bag after 9-11). There is an internal schedule published that shows you all the ways to get from DAL to whereever, but it would violate the law to publish it for the public. You can do about the same thing for yourself, though -- just start picking connecting cities & pull up DAL to ABQ schedule, then ABQ to PHX, and see what your options are. Then the same going thru HOU, SAT, AUS, OKC, etc.

Yeah, it's a pain in the neck until you know what the good options tend to be.

Like I said, Jim Wright was a %$&@.

 

[737tanker]

What Snoopy58 said about the Wright Amendment is correct except that only non-revs may check bags beyond the Wright Amendment States. That is because the Wright Amendment only covers revenue traffic. So if you want to go from DAL to PHX via ABQ you must by 2 tickets (DAL to ABQ & ABQ to PHX) & if you check bags pick them up at baggage claim in ABQ. BTW the Wright Amendment was amended a few years ago to include Kansas, Mississippi, & Alabama. SO SWA does advertise service from DAL to Jackson, MS & Birmingham, AL but all flights require a change of aircraft in HOU. So even though the Wright Amendment now allows it there are no plans to offer non-stop service from DAL to KS, MS, or AL.

 

[Snoopy58]

737 & Tank man,

If you buy the two tickets, they CAN check your bag all the way through for you -- it's not just a non-rev deal. Some may not know this, but it can be done. They aren't selling you service from DAL to PHX, just checking your bag that way. Used to be they wouldn't; with the new security setup & delays, they do.

I speak from my wife's experience, flying as a revenue pax (for work) between Dallas & a non-WA city. They DID check her bag all the way through, even though she had to change planes in HOU. She simply had to ask for it; in her words: "they were quite cool about it."

So, how does the 737 compare to the M1?

Cheers,

Snoopy