SWA buys Airtran

[SWA/FO]

AirTran buys Midwest... then sells its 36 -700 to SWA. Then cuts a deal with airbus to get "free" airplanes - growth baby, growth - then Spirit & Frontier merge with Air Tran and become the "The New Frontier" - the largest LCC in the Country!!! $$$$$$$

 

[j41driver]

I don't see that as very likely to happen.

What wouldn't surprise me at all is if AirTran Holdings bought or merged with Frontier, then kept the certificates and the pilot groups separate, and then whipsawed everyone over growth versus reduction of flying . . . not just pilots, but also Boeing and Airbus, too.

Maybe throw Spirit and Midwest in the mix, just to jazz it up a bit.


.

Exactly the reason we need the scope section of the contract to be bound to the Holding Company not to AirTran Airways as it currently is.

 

[humuakalaka]

SWA buying AirTran does make a degree of sense. SWA has been focusing it's expansion on the East coast and AirTran would give SWA access to at least a few of key markets that SWA does not really serve at this time (New York City, Atlanta, and Charlotte to name three off the top of my head). I realize SWA serves Islip, but AirTran serves LGA, EWR, and HPN. The LGA slots in particular are supposedly worth their weight in gold even with the delays there.

AirTran would also give SWA access to AirTran's book of 737 orders which could be very advantageous for their expansion plan.

Additionally, purchasing AirTran would rid SWA of the only competitor that is very close to itself in terms of CASM and cost-competitiveness. They are the one airline that SWA reportedly worries about a little bit.

That leaves the 717's as a big question mark. They could be taken care of through some kind of deal with Boeing Capital or some other type of investment swap. NWA might be interested in obtaining some 717's to replace their old DC-9's. Who knows?

Or...it is slightly feasible that the 717's could be brought on-line with SWA to replace a good number of the -300's/-500's. I believe the 717 is cheaper than the -300/-500 on a CASM basis though I am not positive about that. It could also allow SWA to junk the plan to reskin the oldest -300's and save that cost. If the 717's were retained, I could see them being kept around for 10-15 years in order to help drive down CASM until the 737 replacement is fielded. I don't know how much having 117 seats on the 717 vs 137 seats on the -300/-700 would handicap the 717 in serving the needs of SWA. The -500's don't seem to have hurt SWA very much.

If AirTran were acquired by SWA, it's a guarantee the next domicile would be ATL.

 

[Golden Falcon]

Dont think union affiliations of certain employee groups will have any effect on a business deal...and after the "great forgivness at Continental...none of that tripe holds water anyway

 

[njcapt]

What wouldn't surprise me at all is if AirTran Holdings bought or merged with Frontier, then kept the certificates and the pilot groups separate, and then whipsawed everyone over growth versus reduction of flying . . . not just pilots, but also Boeing and Airbus, too.

Maybe throw Spirit and Midwest in the mix, just to jazz it up a bit.

Yeah. Turn it into American Eagle circa 1992. Lovely.

 

[CF34-3B1]

If AirTran were acquired by SWA, it's a guarantee the next domicile would be ATL.

And you thought Vegas was gonna be super junior.......

 

[Lear70]

Exactly the reason we need the scope section of the contract to be bound to the Holding Company not to AirTran Airways as it currently is.

That's about the only statement in this entire thread that bears remembering.

SCOPE... can't live without it.

Acquisition/Merger policy... can't live without it.

 

[Whine Lover]

Under direction from SWA, Matlin-Patterson / ATA pick up the 38 737-800's that Delta doesn't want.

ATA flys the aircraft in the recently announced SWA Codeshare expansion to Mexico, Canada and Central America.

SWA acquires the Codeshare routes, 737-800's, and current and qualified Pilots from Matlin-Patterson / ATA.


YKW

 

[jws717]

I think i am gona Vomit!

 

[400ADude]

I think i am gona Vomit!

Most SWA guys probably would, if forced to merge with that outfit out in ATL.

 

[Wesb737fo]

Most SWA guys probably would, if forced to merge with that outfit out in ATL.

If you actually had anything intelligent to say, people might take you seriously.

 

[Lowrider717]

I don't see that as very likely to happen.

What wouldn't surprise me at all is if AirTran Holdings bought or merged with Frontier, then kept the certificates and the pilot groups separate, and then whipsawed everyone over growth versus reduction of flying . . . not just pilots, but also Boeing and Airbus, too.

Maybe throw Spirit and Midwest in the mix, just to jazz it up a bit.


.

Ty, quit givin' them ideas...wait Joe Loren..I mean Joe Leonard probably already thought of that.

 

[B727Driver]

AirTran sells the existing 36 -700's and the spots in line to SWA for $$$, then AT uses the $ to merge with Frontier and JB. This would create on large LCC and SWA gets the planes they want. Win-win for all. AT, JB and Frontier are fighting for the same low cost passenger dollar as separate companies. Together they just might have a chance after the legacies merge.

 

[(o) (o)]

if SWA wanted gates in the ATL, they wouldn,t need to buy AT to get them.

Right, they'll just buy Delta

 

[ron burgundy]

how bout this? large caliber handgun, bottle of whiskey,..and a live light
socket.
drink the whiskey..stick the barrel in the light socket..pull the trigger as fast as you can..anybodys guess how it will turn out..one way or another ..its gonna suck! (for somebody)

why do you people waste your time?
speculate..speculum...
your crystal ball is broken..
you don't know...

 

[LeonPhelps]

Is this sh*t for real?

Is the initiation of this thread solely speculation, or is there something behind this? I mean, it makes an awful lot of sense from an airframe and route acquisition perspective. SWA could sell those 717s overnight, I'm sure...but this would be the way for them to break into the almighty ATL, finally.

 

[Schiphol]

Uhhhhh...

Uhhhh, I'm no 'rocket surgeon' but the extended turn times alone in ATL would be enough for me to stay away from the busiest airport in the world if, hypothetically, I were SWA management.

Man all this merger news is making the kids CRAZY, ain't it!? I will say it makes for fun reading. Kinda like The Star, The Wall Street Journal and Flight Info had a three way love child.

Man, that kid would have issues.

 

[puddlejumper101]

all i know is every airtran pilot should hope this happens...but culture is everything at SWA...and that's why this probably won't happen...but what do i know

 

[Phaedrus]

...but what do i know

Do you really want an answer to that?

 

[bestpilot]

Sounds to me like the girlfriends janitors daughters cleaning lady heard something.

Personally, and nothing against you Tranny dudes

Ty Guy likez da girlfriendz and da cleening lady, and eeven da janitors, if ya no waht I mean!

Awww Yeaahhh---Thanx fer da LUV ole Gup meister!

 

[USARET]

all i know is every airtran pilot should hope this happens...but culture is everything at SWA...and that's why this probably won't happen...but what do i know

Wait just a minute, we be havin us some cultures here at da Airtrans.

 

[bestpilot]

Wait just a minute, we be havin us some cultures here at da Airtrans.

USARET dude is freaking right!!!

Ole Ty Guy gotza git a culture like done evvery week an stuff!!!