SWA is in position to dominate ATL

[dicko]

Sorry, Westjet and Volaris will be doing the European flying for SWA out of BWI.

You're not the sharpest knife in the drawer are you ? Hang in there.

 

[SKC]

Southwest to fly international to Europe from BWI ......

I think you forgot the "maybe" or "possibly someday".

 

[27 driver]

In conversation last night in Tampa SWA leadership was excited about competing in new markets. Adding planes is a real possibility. They also said approximately 125 engine changes last year on the B717.

I think your number may be a bit high.

 

[johnsonrod]

You're not the sharpest knife in the drawer are you ? Hang in there.

Living up to your name? It was sarcasm - look into it!!!!!!

 

[ASADFW7]

Not my number it was from one if the vp and chief pilot.

 

[luckytohaveajob]

The B717 can not keep an engine on pylon at any operator. The engine has gone through three upgrades and still eats itself.

Hawaiian is having the same issues.

 

[27 driver]

If 125 is correct then every 717 we have has had one re-engine and 32 have had both engines changed. I think his numbers are a bit skewed.

 

[Lear70]

Agreed. That sounds more like a "total number to date" for every 717 in the world rather than a one-operator (much less one year) number...

 

[pilotgolfer]

I've never understood what the big deal with ATL is, in regards to difficulty. It's one of the absolute easiest large airports to operate out of. The amount of jets launched off 2-3 runways in a ten minute period is quite a feat. Unless there's training t-storms over the field, it's overall a cakewalk. Even if you're number 10 in line you're talking 10-12 minutes max of wait time. Arrivals are equally as efficient. Even with summertime pop-ups in the area, the speed at which arrivals are processed is pretty amazing. It amazes me anyway, but I'm pretty easily amazed.

and it never hurts to know you'll have a tall cold one waiting for you at Spondivit's!

 

[carl p]

Agreed. That sounds more like a "total number to date" for every 717 in the world rather than a one-operator (much less one year) number...

Agreed, that number has got to be high. If they are power by the hour, why is it a big deal aside from operational problems a diversion creates?

 

[mule]

ATC in ATL is the best in the country. But once you get on the ground it all goes to $#$@@.

I might have to disagree. MEM is pretty amazing...have you ever tried to land during the PM arrivals during a thunderstorm? They put ATL to shame!

 

[GuppyWN]

Agreed, that number has got to be high. If they are power by the hour, why is it a big deal aside from operational problems a diversion creates?

A) Cause there aren't many spares left.
B) The contract will cost WAY more next go around.

Gup

 

[redflyer65]

why is it a big deal aside from operational problems a diversion creates?

That one line right there might be why they wouldn't want to keep them. Southwest would not really tolerate any hanger queens. It's all about keeping it moving..

 

[Ty Webb]

Agreed, that number has got to be high. If they are power by the hour, why is it a big deal aside from operational problems a diversion creates?

"Power by the hour", just like any sort of lease or insurance product, is a completely numbers-driven proposition. GE or whoever has the leases on those engines will have their analysts/economists pore over the reports, and come up with a new hourly amount reflecting the costs.

Most, but certainly not all, of the BR715 engine problems I have heard about do not occur during a critical segment, but often are a rollback to flight idle in cruise.

 

[carl p]

Agreed, do we know how long the term of the PBH contracts are? Makes you wonder if there are other options moving forward, perhaps the MD-90 engines? Hopefully, RR gets their stuff together with the 715.

 

[GuppyWN]

The problem is the 717 is a one-off engine. You can't just throw another motor on it without a lengthy certification process. One that think will HAVE to happen very soon.

Gup

 

[redflyer65]

but often are a rollback to flight idle in cruise.

Wow, inflight rollbacks. That doesn't sound very good.

 

[-9Capt]

The 717 had a rash of PCDU overheat issues around 7-8 yrs ago and caused at least 1 evacuation and numerous inflight emergencies (smoke, screens blank). Something about a blocked cooling airflow duct. Boeing fixed that. Now the issue seem to be with the engines shutting down.

I flew it for a number of years and never had a major engine issue. Worst engine prob I've seen was when it wouldn't spool up from idle when we pushed the power up for TO. Lots of pain in the ass nuisance alerts, especially when you try to wake it up after it sat overnight in cold temps.

Good airplane though. Very automated and basically takes care of itself.

 

[BOX OFFICE]

Best thing SWA could do is somehow "convince" the ATL airport authority that all the RJ's should be in the A concourse and push them all into Ramps 1 and 2.

That would go a long way towards clearing up all the congestion. Don't see nearly as much of a monkey with a football on Ramps 1, 2, and 5 as we do in 3 and 4 fighting with the RJ folk.

Keep Delta planes on Delta ramps, keep SWA/AAI planes on SWA/AAI ramps. Problem solved.

Whatever happened to that south side concourse Airtran was supposed to be building? They cleared the land but never did anything with it. I would think SWA would be all over that. It would turn ATL into a fortress for them. They even have their own runway down there.

 

[redflyer65]

Whatever happened to that south side concourse Airtran was supposed to be building? They cleared the land but never did anything with it. I would think SWA would be all over that. It would turn ATL into a fortress for them. They even have their own runway down there.

Sounds like an interesting idea.

 

[Lear70]

Whatever happened to that south side concourse Airtran was supposed to be building? They cleared the land but never did anything with it. I would think SWA would be all over that. It would turn ATL into a fortress for them. They even have their own runway down there.

Hey Box, long time no see. How's life?

On that thought process, you'd either have to construct a train to connect the passengers, OR you'd have to get approval from the TSA to set up an entirely new terminal and screening area, the equipment, thousands of extra employees, plus the irritation of having to take a bus to connect the large number of our passengers who connect to DAL's international flights after taking our flights into the hub.

Not saying it can't be done, but there's some logistics involved and time to make it happen (1-2+ years), plus the hundreds of millions of $$$ involved to build it, all to avoid ramp congestion that may cost a few hundred thousand $ a year, max. What's the cost/benefit analysis on that? (rhetorical question, none of us have the numbers for that of course, not even sure the exact dollar amount that all the ramp congestion costs us has even been calculated by the bean counters in MCO).

Interesting thought, though... :beer:

 

[asadonkey]

SWA rates are a target, but never forget how they got them...

god bless, and good luck to all. tomorrow is a promise to no one.

 

[Lear70]

Love the avatar... all-time favorite scene from that movie.

"Don't drive angry... don't drive angry!" "That's not bad for a quadriped".

 

[PuffDriver]

Whatever happened to that south side concourse Airtran was supposed to be building? They cleared the land but never did anything with it. I would think SWA would be all over that. It would turn ATL into a fortress for them. They even have their own runway down there.

If you believe that, then you really have no idea of the traffic flow in ATL.

 

[BOX OFFICE]

If you believe that, then you really have no idea of the traffic flow in ATL.

OK... for the sake of argument, let's pretend I don't. Explain it to me.

 

[PuffDriver]

OK... for the sake of argument, let's pretend I don't. Explain it to me.

You honestly think that the busiest airport in the world will cater to dedicating 10/28 to SWA, thus disrupting the flow of traffic? Seriously, you honestly think a MDW flight is going to be given 28 on a routine basis?

Good luck with that dream, but it ain't happening.

 

[Tripower455]

Love the avatar... all-time favorite scene from that movie.

"Don't drive angry... don't drive angry!" "That's not bad for a quadriped".

Great, underrated flick......


"Ned: Phil? Hey, Phil? Phil! Phil Connors? Phil Connors, I thought that was you!
Phil: Hi, how you doing? Thanks for watching.
[Starts to walk away]
Ned: Hey, hey! Now, don't you tell me you don't remember me because I sure as heckfire remember you.
Phil: Not a chance.
Ned: Ned... Ryerson. "Needlenose Ned"? "Ned the Head"? C'mon, buddy. Case Western High. Ned Ryerson: I did the whistling belly-button trick at the high school talent show? Bing! Ned Ryerson: got the shingles real bad senior year, almost didn't graduate? Bing, again. Ned Ryerson: I dated your sister Mary Pat a couple times until you told me not to anymore? Well?
Phil: Ned Ryerson?
Ned: Bing!
Phil: Bing. "

"Do you want to throw up here, or in the car?"

Classic stuff!

 

[General Lee]

Whatever happened to that south side concourse Airtran was supposed to be building? They cleared the land but never did anything with it. I would think SWA would be all over that. It would turn ATL into a fortress for them. They even have their own runway down there.

You mean they would actually PAY for a terminal of their own to be built? That is not how they usually do it, they try to grab used property. But, if they want to shell out even more money and ensure fares stay high in ATL to pay for it, and then give DL their old gates in C and D, then I think many people would go for that. DO IT. Spend more money. BUILD YOUR OWN NEW TERMINAL.


Bye Bye---General Lee

 

[General Lee]

OK... for the sake of argument, let's pretend I don't. Explain it to me.

She doesn't? She told me she was a Delta pilot? Oh, right, that wasn't the truth.


Bye Bye--General Lee

 

[redflyer65]

, and then give DL their old gates in C and D

Bye Bye---General Lee

I love it when the Deltoid arrogance is right out there for everyone to see. Nice post General, nothing like showing your true colors. I guess everything in Atlanta really belongs to Mother Delta. Should we ask pretty please to use 'your' gates anywhere in the terminal?

RF