SWA New City? Hmmm....

[chase]

Interesting article linking new SWA city to Southwest FL......I guess we'll see come Monday.


Posted today at the NBC2 site below. Purports that "Lee County" alias "Southwest Florida International Airport" alias "KRSW" will be our newest city. I thought our ATA code share already served that market?

http://www.nbc-2.com/articles/readarticle.asp?articleid=3704&z=3&p=

"Southwest comes to Southwest Florida
NBC2 News
Posted on: Saturday, June 25, 2005
LEE COUNTY — Sources tell NBC2 News that Southwest Airlines will be landing at Southwest Florida International Airport's new Midfield Terminal.

Southwest is known for its low-fare service and is one of the many airlines that is expanding during a time where the airline industry is struggling. The Dallas-based airline announced last month that it is adding Pittsburgh International Airport as a stop. Southwest currently operates over 400 Boeing 737 aircraft in 60 cities, in 31 states. The 34-year-old company employs more that 31,000 employees nationwide.

More details on the new airline are expected Monday at 10 a.m. during Joint Board meeting of the Lee County Port Authority and Airports Special Management Committee.

Count on NBC2 News to bring you all the details as they develop."
_______________
Currently ATA does fly out of RSW....don't know how that will work out but SWA doesn't compete with ATA on routes to & from similar cities directly. One could conclude that ATA will be pulling out but that will be determined in the future obviously. I just provide this info since ATA & SWA are codesharing....no intel on what will happen in this arena...will make for the first test of how things are going between the two airlines. BTW, have run into several ex-ATA folks, some who left before the preferential interview agreement, several after the agreement was inked. Good luck to all...

 

[lowecur]

Fort Myers was my prediction for the new city a few weeks ago. The new facility gives SWA room to grow in a market filled with LCC routes. Looks like I got one right.

 

[Skyrunner]

Even a broken clock is right twice a day.

 

[Flying Illini]

Even a broken clock is right twice a day.

BURN!

 

[lowecur]

Even a broken clock is right twice a day.

My favorite Ty expression.

 

[ATA73Pilot]

Interesting article linking new SWA city to Southwest FL......I guess we'll see come Monday.


Posted today at the NBC2 site below. Purports that "Lee County" alias "Southwest Florida International Airport" alias "KRSW" will be our newest city. I thought our ATA code share already served that market?

I am sure we will see ATA either reduce service or leave the RSW market entirely in the near future.

It is obvious that SWA is using ATA as a placeholder for many domestic cities.

Don't mistake my opinions for sour-grapes....I recognize the realities in this marriage of convenience between us and SWA.

I think there will be no domestic growth, only reduction, for ATA in the future.

I just keep asking myself why SWA "needs" ATA to carry their passengers between MDW and MSP (or any other domestic city that we codeshare on).

SWA is in a major expansion period and will need to allocate those resources as they become available.

At best ATA will end up being SWA's International/Hawaian codeshare partner when all this plays out in the end.

 

['LUVIN LIFE]

So is there any intel from within that this may also turn into a new pilot base? I thought I heard a rumor earlier this year that a new pilot base would open up at the end of the year. That would be primo!

 

[Pickle]

BTW, have run into several ex-ATA folks, some who left before the preferential interview agreement, several after the agreement was inked. Good luck to all...

Said agreement is no longer happening. SWA has stopped giving preferential interviews to ATA furloughess.

As far as number of furloughees hired, I believe that it turned out to be something like 5 ATA furloughees hired out of about 60 interviews given.

 

[TAZ MAN]

[QUOTE='LUVIN LIFE]So is there any intel from within that this may also turn into a new pilot base? I thought I heard a rumor earlier this year that a new pilot base would open up at the end of the year. That would be primo![/QUOTE]

Man you are new to this business aren't you!

Good luck on your new career.

 

[chase]

Luvin,

There was "some" talk of a pilot base last year, early but when the new optimized schedule came out last Oct the improved efficiency of the aircraft flows & improved schedule allowed the company to delay establishing a new pilot base until sometime in '06 or '07 (or so the rumor mill goes).

Hope that helps...don't go buying any property based on anything on this board for sure!!! good luck

 

[luv2fly]

A little bird told me ROA!!

 

[SWA/FO]

CLT bbbbbaby!!!

 

[MICK]

Bingo........swa/fo

 

[RedDogC130]

Is Orlando still a pilot base???

 

[chase]

Just a note about SWA announcing new cities....just prior to PHL being announced there was much speculation about cities....the day prior & the day of the annoucement there were sample fares in the res. system that showed BOS as a SWA city pairing....why would they put that in there but to send out mixed messages & keep everyone on their toes? Could a news agency be duped by SWA? Guess we'll find out Monday or later....just some more colorful speculation.

 

[Tripower455]

[QUOTE='LUVIN LIFE]So is there any intel from within that this may also turn into a new pilot base? I thought I heard a rumor earlier this year that a new pilot base would open up at the end of the year. That would be primo![/QUOTE]

Well, it would be the perfect place for a domicile........ seeing that it's about 20 minutes from my house!

 

['LUVIN LIFE]

Yeppers, definitely more than a little wet behind the ears with regards to the airline industry. I tell you what though, rumors are like bellybuttons. And some definitely have more crap in it than others!

I'll figure it out eventually, Rome wasn't built in a day. (HA! Who am I kidding?). I just need to figure out if this forum does me more good than harm!

So for now I'll continue to read, and yes, I too am pulling for CLT.

 

[Guam360]

I was comuting out of RSW this morrning, caught the 7:30 DL to CVG, well, there was two news crew trucks, with the extendeable antennas, the whole deal. I pulled over to them and asked what's up, He said, " Southwest is coming".

FWIW...

 

[Tripower455]

Well, it makes sense.

When I got hired, SWA had just started FL service. At the breakfast with Herb, I asked him about Ft. Myers. He said that we wanted to go in there, but that they wouldn't give us our own gates. We'd have to share with other airlines. For our operation to make money, we need to use the gate all the time.

5 years later, when I was in upgrade, I asked him again, as well as the guy who is in charge of schedule planning, about Ft. Myers, and they said the same thing.

RSW opened a new terminal last month, with a ton more gates. Now we're going in there.......

 

[Guam360]

Ft. Meyers new terminal IS NOT OPEN. it is supposed to open July 20, but people that I have talked to locally said all the support people, construction, etc. said they are behind, rumor is October.