To poolies
I had dinner at the Renaisance Hotel (where they are putting up the new hires...wow!!!! what an improvement!!!) on Monday night with a friend in the class & the mood was pretty incredible. 18 military folks, 2 civilians. Most had heard of flightinfo.com, I believe the two civilians were unaware of it. Many were stop/loss folks.
Greg Crum spoke to the class for quite awhile. I wasn't there but my friend said the mood was still caution on the future of more hiring. Crummy said something in the 160-200 range, very conservative. Here is what I've heard from other folks, nothing definite obviously.
1. Lots of meetings going on at HHQ (no surprise) on expansion plans based upon war w/Iraq, not if but when UAL falls, -200s still flying.
2. -200s are still programed to be with SWA until '05 but the assumption they are money makers is being tested. Full study to take into account all costs associated w/running the program, i.e. higher mx costs (yes there are those issues to include hangar queen issues, unscheduled mx), recurrent training for pilots who are out of currency, other items that haven't been accounted for in the past. If the facts prove to show the -200s are not as cost effective as in the past, they may go quicker than planned.
3. Everything is still in place for a rapid expansion with UAL's failure (my apologies, not trying to be cold, I have many friends there) with training instructors in place, aircraft from boeing. 28 Feb is the big deadline by the bankruptcy judge. The hoops they have to jump through (must prove profitability in '03 to bankruptcy judge NLT than 28 Feb...hard to believe what mirrors & smoke can make that happen) will be tough. No hard evidence but hard to imagine SWA wouldn't move rapidly to move into void. Other carriers will have tough time doing that with money shortages. We have $2B of cash on hand (double prior to 911) to make such moves. Keeping one's powder dry at times like this will come in handy with openings that may come up. Krummy did nothing to strengthen this speculation but no one expected that either.
4. Was told by some non-ops department folks that the hiring freeze that was in effect late last year is off now. IT folks & other jobs that couldn't be filled are now being advertised outside the company. Always a good sign.
5. Rumors about another FA class soon. No word on capt upgrade though.
Congrats again to the new hires & to the poolies, hang in there. Your time will come soon & it will be fun!!!
God Bless & hug your kids/spouse today sometime!!! SWA is great but family is forever!!!