SWA at DIA?

[roughneck]

United has announced it would scale back by 14% on its domestic routes and reduce the number of aircraft. Could there be some truth to the rumors that SWA might be considering opening DIA in January? Landing fees have been reduced and with the prospect of the Wright ammendment going away it sure seems to be a real possiblity.

I heard that we have looked at United -300's and found 30 that we would like to do a 3-5 year lease on (the aircraft are owned by a leasing company and we would just take over the lease)to increase capacity until they can be phased out with new -700's.

My Money is on a new city in January. Either Charlotte or Denver. I am a true believer now that it pays to be conservative in the good times so you can seize oportunities in the bad. (I understood but wasn't sold on it before)

Should be a very interesting year.

 

[Guitar Guy]

Interesting thought. But I thought SWA has had concerns about how fees at DEN. Also, what concourse would they use? Concourse A is filled up with mostly Frontier, some Continental and some one-off type flights from Lufthansa, Aeromexico and as well as commuter activity. Concrouse B is all United/United Express. Concourse C hosts American, Delta, AWA, NWA, USAir, etc. Would SWA maybe think about COS instead of DEN?

 

[iflyfred]

Regarding COS, I was under the impression that SWA wanted a better road built that connects the airport with the highway north of town. The existing road, Powers, is rapidly becoming bogged down with retail development. A limited access road east of the town would make COS an attractive alternative to DIA for all the people living in the south Denver suburbs.

 

[roughneck]

Landing fees have come down dramatically in the past 2 years. We actually pay more at SEA for landing fees than we would at DIA. I hear we have several gates that we could get if we wanted them. Not sure which ones.

 

[snow-back]

Roughneck,

You didn't happen to have that avatar photo taken near Ludlow, SD (Cave Hills) did you?

 

[Daddy]

Charlotte? Is that a rumor? That looks like a perfect SWA city to me...2nd highest originating traffic revenue per flight of any US airport...

 

[TriStar_drvr]

My Money is on a new city in January. Either Charlotte or Denver. I am a true believer now that it pays to be conservative in the good times so you can seize oportunities in the bad.

ATA already serves both Charlotte and Denver. Code sharing with ATA to these two cities would be low risk for SWA.

 

[roughneck]

ATA already serves both Charlotte and Denver. Code sharing with ATA to these two cities would be low risk for SWA.

If SWA starts electing not to fly to places so ATA can, SWAPA will be all over it. ATA will continue to do what they can to become profitable. Maybe the Charlotte and Denver gates will be sold to SWA to inject more money into to kitty?

 

[Guam360]

ok, what about the new terminal in RSW, will SWA join in on the growth in SW Florida?

for now only TPA and MCO and FLL.

ATA, jB, and AirTran fly to Ft. meyers(rsw).

 

[roughneck]

ATA already serves both Charlotte and Denver. Code sharing with ATA to these two cities would be low risk for SWA.

You are right, that definetly is a possibility, but the code share only applies to flights originating out of MDW. We could support flights from our entire system and make huge money with either of those new destinations.

Anyway it works out, you can be sure that SWA and ATA will make money doing it. SWA will not let ATA go south without a fight because we now have a large investment in ATA.

 

[TriStar_drvr]

If SWA starts electing not to fly to places so ATA can, SWAPA will be all over it. ATA will continue to do what they can to become profitable. Maybe the Charlotte and Denver gates will be sold to SWA to inject more money into to kitty?

I didn't mean to imply that SWA would stay out of DEN and CLT and leave that to ATA. I know how quickly SWA can move into a city. It's just that they could be selling tickets to and from those cities next week if they wanted to.

As for a strong response from SWAPA concerning this deal. I fully expect it. I never expected to be welcomed with open arms into the fold. My only expectation is to be employed for a while longer than if the other proposal had prevailed.

In the mean time I'm still updating my app to SWA, and I'll still show the LUV to all the SWA jumpseaters catching a ride to MDW from the likes of DEN, MSP, and DFW.

 

[roughneck]

In the mean time I'm still updating my app to SWA, and I'll still show the LUV to all the SWA jumpseaters catching a ride to MDW from the likes of DEN, MSP, and DFW.

Right on! And we will do the same. I think you guys have probably gotten a new lease on life. If flying starts to shift, I hope that we will bring you guys into our seniority list so we don't lose the flying.(on bottom of course! )

Keep updating your resume. they say it will be the largest year ever for SWA newhires.