SWA searching for more deals, SWAPA salivating----article

[kwick]

With all of Southwests maintenance problems, they might be wise to buy Frontier, and operate it as a separate airline.

They would avoid a fair integration of the Frontier pilots, which SWAPA won't allow, and they would enjoy the benefits of international capability.

The next time their 737 fleet gets grounded, for their inability to maintain them safely and legally, Frontier could bail them out.

 

[airlinepilot]

One thing our SWAPA lawyer pointed out. A-M has never been tested in court.....

 

[XR650R]

With regards to Alaska or Airtran merging with SWA. No one at either SWA or SWAPA has any delusions about how a SLI would go. Simply it would be DOH with a ratio based on the relitive size of the respective pilot groups. Anything less would simply be spinning wheels. They know that. Frontier was seen as something as a special case. The offer was presented, subsequently refused, and our bid withdrawn. No more no less. Every scenario will/would be different. Really, the only hangups would be domicile/ equipment fencing. You all must remember this. SWA's low cost model is in danger of being completly invalidated by lower cost competetors. SWA has a crap load of cash ( right now) and the old axiom of "if you can't beat'em- buy'em" now holds true. SWAPA members would do well to head the writing on the wall- accept the slight pinch you might feel as your relitive seniority changes by a few percentage points or feel the burn of working for a company doomed to languish as it's get's it ass handed to by lower cost rivals. It really is that black and white.

SWAPA member in good standing

 

[Daddy]

XR, I completely disagree...I dont know many who would agree with that either

 

[BJK]

One thing our SWAPA lawyer pointed out. A-M has never been tested in court.....

Not sure about A-M, but for sure McCaskill-Bond has not been tested. But a lot of people seem to think it has teeth. Probably not a risk SWAPA was willing to take.

 

[XR650R]

XR, I completely disagree...I dont know many who would agree with that either

Time will tell and I hope you're right and I'm wrong

 

[Hamburger]

Since they've already bought 'em, they might as well take over operations at the FAA.