Swa Done Hiring For The Year?

[klhoard]

Chase was saying that it is your only look at the first day on the job at SWA, not the last job you will ever have. Everyone knows better than to feel too secure.

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Roger that. . .
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[lowecur]

You crack me up, man. I know!

What could Airtran possibly have that SWA wants or needs? Joe Leonard. They certainly don't have enough B737s to warrant it but they are getting quite a few delivered in the next few years, and who wants ATL and all that crap Actually, ATL is doing quite well since DL rearranged their schedule. B717s? Gives them an answer to the 190. Forget about it.

It's all rumor. SWA stuck their necks out in this ATA deal, and it's far from over in that regard.

Sounds like they are going to buy ATA out.

 

[mach zero]

WTFO Lowecur?

Joe Leonard...why in the heck would we give a crap about acquiring that guy. Herb has made it clear he wants to promote from within to preserve our culture.
Our answer to the 190 is the 737. Just wait till those E-Jets actually hit the line and start breaking down.

ATL? We won't go into DFW because of its inherent inefficencies much less ATL which is worse.

 

[lowecur]

WTFO Lowecur?

Joe Leonard...why in the heck would we give a crap about acquiring that guy. He and Herb are great friends. Herb has made it clear he wants to promote from within to preserve our culture. Gary will be demoted back to CFO for making the ATA deal and coming up witht the PHL idea. Our answer to the 190 is the 737. Just wait till those E-Jets actually hit the line and start breaking down.

ATL? We won't go into DFW because of its inherent inefficencies much less ATL which is worse.

Yeah, PHL & LAX are great.

 

[acbarney]

Gary will be demoted back to CFO for making the ATA deal and coming up witht the PHL ideaActually, from what we were told,.. it was Herb who called George with the idea of a codeshare with ATA.

 

[mach zero]

Yeah, PHL & LAX are great.

Wrong again. LAX is a very efficient airport for us because it's almost always in a west flow and that means a very short taxi time for us. Sometimes we take a little delay in departing with flow times but we usually make that up. PHL has been a headache I will admit but we are working on that issue. We are starting to use 17-35 which is helping alot.

 

[MotoX]

Just my luck! Getting my type this month. Oh well, at least it's just our emergency fund that I am spending on this type and not my kids college tuition! Well, yet anyway! Haha..

 

[-9Capt]

You crack me up, man.

What could Airtran possibly have that SWA wants or needs?

How about eliminating the competition?

lowecur is right about one thing, JL and Herb are good friends. I flew with his daughter, she said the same thing.

As far as a merger/buyout, I sure as hell hope not.

 

[HalinTexas]

Fine, Herb and Joe are good friends. Herb also had George Mikelsons's cell. The way George tells it, Herb call GM's cell while George was driving to Chicago. Yeah, I know, doesn't sound terribly plausible since George flies himself around.

OK, let's recap. SWA bailed out and bought into ATA for $117M in cash and credit, and they only got 27%. How much do you think Airtran is worth? I'd say probably more than ATA in bankruptcy. Others are stating that the only way SWA made money is fuel hedging. Yeah, and good managment that socked away the cash when times were good for the rainy days we're in. If the above were true, why would an airline that's supposedly lucky to be making money be buying an airline just to "eliminate the competition?" ATA at least offers a "turnkey" international, ne global, operation and gates in an airport they want to lock up. Airtran and SWA would both be better off without a merger.

Some at ATA are hearing conflicting messages. One, many at SWA are very tense about the codeshare, others are very excited, still others want to be doing it (HNL to the mainland) themselves. Two, ATA has been burning through cash like a drunken lottery winner, but we're meeting, possibly beating, advance bookings projections. Three, temporary LOA that just passes expires at the end of May, but we all know that wages won't snap back to their origional state dating back to July 2004. It's way too early to think there's an ATA-SWA merger, but I can't see SWA employees being all that happy that they're not doing the exo-CONUS flying in two years.

Slightly off topic. This codeshare could have stunning ramifications to the airline industry. Too much has to happen before it's fully realized, but the potential is astounding.

Airtrain would be better off merging, buying or codesharing with someone else and expanding in DFW. They could give AMR a running for their money as long as too many eggs aren't put in that basket.

 

[-9Capt]

Halin,
You do make a few good points.

What's with your avatar, I liked the PG-13 version better.

 

[1-tacan-rule]

What did Chase say?

"...good luck & its the last first day on the job you'll ever have!!!: (my highlights)

What that appears to me to mean is that you will never have a first day on a job again....ergo....this will be the last job you ever have....right Chase? This guy will never have to look for another job because he will work for the rest of his long career with SWA....that's what you're saying, right?

hmm

 

[Mr Hat]

Why are some people just......turds.
All these fun rumors floating around and you're worried because of a nice thing that Chase said to someone else. Do you burn your Christmas tree down in front of your kids too?

 

[Donald]

SWA has slowed down classes for one reason. They were planning on picking up the leases of 25 or so US Air 737's to add to the 25 or so new 737-700's they are purchasing this year. Since US Air has gotten a reprieve until June, those aircraft are not availble. SWA will still train 400 or so new hires this year to cover the new 700's and retirements. If those aircraft from US Air come available later this year, they will boost the training numbers.

 

[HPaul3]

Greetings all --

I've received a call for a 9 March class. I'll be returning from 2 years of military leave, for which I was called involuntarily during my first week at Southwest, after starting 17 Feb 03.

So as Chase said, I have already had one "last first day on the job" at SWA and now I'll have the privilege of another one Believe me, it's a day (days for me) you'll never forget.

Let me for a moment relay to you guys my experience with SWA over the past two years. I know there's a lot of positive information about the company on this board, and a lot of conjecture about it as well. Let me just say that they have been incredible. I've received cards and letters, calls from people in both HQ and my home domicile, personal notes and good wishes from SWAPA folks, care packages for both me AND my family, complete unrestricted passes on Southwest airplanes for all my eligible family, and more. In short, they have all treated me with the utmost personal care and concern, as if I had been with SWA for years, when the reality was that I had been there for a few days. I feel incredibly fortunate to have landed at SWA and I just wanted to let y'all know from my perspective how fantastic the company really is....no Kool-Aid here, just the facts.

I interviewed in the spring of 2001. Yes, 2001. After my time in the pool (15 months) and my time on paid vacation with the DoD, I think I'm going to set some kind of record for the longest new hire at SWA. And I'm totally fired up about it! I truly wish the best of luck for all you guys who are hopeful, waiting on interviews or classes, or just trying to frame your career plans towards SWA. As I used to write to my former "poolies," keep the faith.

Cheers!
Paul

 

[TexaSWA]

He and Joe Leonard are great friends.

Yeah, hes friends with Bob Crandal too, Jackbone. It doesnt mean he wants his help running the company.

 

[HalinTexas]

Halin,
You do make a few good points.

What's with your avatar, I liked the PG-13 version better.

I kept getting edited. Some found my swaying asian beauty offensive. Some people are just too uptight.

 

[mach zero]

I kept getting edited. Some found my swaying asian beauty offensive. Some people are just too uptight.

What offends me about her is that annoying black line which is masking her "swaying beauty."

 

[TexaSWA]

I kept getting edited. Some found my swaying asian beauty offensive. Some people are just too uptight.

IS THIS A PILOT FORUM OR A QUILTING BEA ?!?!

If these moderators are offended by that avatar, they wouldnt last a single p.m. trip over here.

 

[BSAV8R]

Freezer: 2500 hours of flight time??...better hang-on! Congrads.

 

[airlinepilot]

The latest

I just got back from my PC at DAL.....and the word we got from Mr Bob...was we will hire around 460 as of today.....and he made a point of saying this number changes daily ......we are only slowing down a "little"....I saw guy/gals being interviewed monday and tuesday......He also said we are still looking for additional aircraft and that Boeing was going to give us some extra 700's at the end of the year.......Keep the faith...THE DREAM IS ALIVE AND WELL