SWA to keep 717s around after all!!

[malibuVride]

According to one of our MC guys in the lounge the other day, SWA has no plans, nor have they really even discussed plans to dump off the 717s. This seems to be reaffirmed by the MEC update and Transition bid link as well.

This is great news for many of us! I will gladly take capt on the 717 and wait for Jan 1, 2015, for a nice big raise!!

Some good news after almost a year of nastiness.

 

[Fubijaakr]

Personally, I'd be bidding over to the Blue side ASAP. Plans (or non-plans) change in a nanosecond in this business. Don't get stuck on a jet that could go extinct with little or no notice. 2015 is a LONG time away in the airlines.

 

[ASADFW7]

I hope this thread makes you feel better about yourself. None of us knows what SWA management is going to do.

 

[GuppyWN]

When does the bid close?

Gup

 

[MILF Hunter]

My buddy ovrer there said the bid will be open for one month. So I guess that means it closes on Dec 15 or 16. He's an 11 yr 737 Captain and thinks he's going to bid 717 Captain. He's definitely looking at the dollar signs in the not to distant future.

As far as the 717s going away...that was probably just tossed around to create fear throughout the negotiations. (I kinda believed it, and I'm most likely guilty of adding fuel to the fire on that one.)

 

[Fubijaakr]

Just a WAG, but I'd say the economics of a two aircraft fleet will dictate how fast they go. Especially if there are engine issues...

 

[bluebound]

Let's take a moment to look at the facts concerning the 717. Are there plans to move the sims to DAL? No! Are there plans to send the 717 to the paint shop? No! Are the 717 on the same pay scale as the 737? No!
Now I'm not the sharpest tool in the shed, but I would take the time to rationally think this through before I submit my vacancy bid.

 

[SKC]

Let's take a moment to look at the facts concerning the 717. Are there plans to move the sims to DAL? No! Are there plans to send the 717 to the paint shop? No! Are the 717 on the same pay scale as the 737? No!
Now I'm not the sharpest tool in the shed, but I would take the time to rationally think this through before I submit my vacancy bid.

Actually, to be fair, the 717s ARE on the timeline to transition to SWA. Albeit, they are nearly the last things to do so, but are on it none-the-less.

 

[fam62c]

Just a WAG, but I'd say the economics of a two aircraft fleet will dictate how fast they go. Especially if there are engine issues...

There is no question that one type is much more efficient than two in this case. I would say that SW would like to have the 717's gone yesterday and replaced with NG's but they need the lift and in addition to the 717's they have to replace of a bunch of classic 737's.

The reality is that they will need all their deliveries for years to just replace airplanes. Unless something changes that would allow a bunch of NG's to become available quickly I think the 717's stay for years. Not only that, if something happened with another airline in Denver and SW suddenly needed some additional airframes to take advantage of some opportunities where would they get them? There are some 717's sitting around that Boeing would LUV to get leased out cheap........if there was no other options and SW needed planes fast......I'm just saying. SW's future at this point is somewhat limited by Boeing's 737 production capability, the 737's are still selling like hotcakes.

Does anybody know what the SW 737 delivery schedule looks like including the AT delivery positions for the next few years? Can they increase it?

 

[pilotgolfer]

Let's take a moment to look at the facts concerning the 717. Are there plans to move the sims to DAL? No! Are there plans to send the 717 to the paint shop? No! Are the 717 on the same pay scale as the 737? No!
Now I'm not the sharpest tool in the shed, but I would take the time to rationally think this through before I submit my vacancy bid.

So you do admit that you are a tool? :laugh:

Just kidding, of course!

 

[humveedriver]

Just a WAG, but I'd say the economics of a two aircraft fleet will dictate how fast they go. Especially if there are engine issues...

I don't think Fubi is talking out of his butt on this one. He's just looking at how Alaska eliminated the MD80 fleet prior to the leases expiring. SWA could do that too. At this point it wouldn't surprise me if they did. Obviously I hope they just run the course of the leases to minimize displacements. No AT pilot can bid 737 CA until 2015, so 1 for 1 replacements would be detrimental for our transition. Now that the vote is over we are trying to see if the "other" shoe is going to drop. Or if SWA is really the people first airline it claims to be. Or once was.

 

[GIZMONC]

Closes 15 Dec. (Don't know why we need 30 days to decide.) There are only 3 choices:

SWA B737 FO (707 slots)
SWA B717 Capt (518 slots)
SWA B717 FO (510 slots)

B717's to be based in ATL and TPA (numbers not determined yet).
All SWA B737 slots will go to SWA domiciles, as there will be no SWA ATL (or SEA) B737 base.

First AT aircraft and crews go to SWA in Feb. Everyone at SWA by 2014 according to the current plan. New SWA domicile to be announced late 2012. Most AT pilots will be commuters to where ever their SWA system seniority (which will not be very high) will allow them to hold. If you are an AT FO you will be lucky if you are not on reserve. If you are an AT Capt you will fare better for bidding, but you will not be able to fly with your favorite Capt until 2015 for the senior ones and much later for the junior ones). This was posted by Sherpalifter on another pilot chat board.

 

[humveedriver]

If you are an AT Capt you will fare better for bidding, but you will not be able to fly with your favorite Capt until 2015 for the senior ones and much later for the junior ones). This was posted by Sherpalifter on another pilot chat board.

???

An Airtran pilot who wants to wear four stripes can do it prior to 2015. It just has to be on the 717. Hence the spirit of this thread. Not sure what you meant in your post.

 

[Bill Nelson]

The 717's didn't look good with higher oil prices but that is only in light of the poor lease rates. I would bet that with SWA credit the leases will be redone allowing the airframe to work efficiently.
Days of posturing are over, we are going to be one group. Bid whatever you want. AirTran pilots ARE Southwest pilots now and even if the 717 goes away, you guys are here to stay. Welcome aboard.

 

[jetflier]

They are feeling the "LUV"

 

[freightdogfred]

Fact- even with high oil prices, Airtran made money flying the 717. The rapid retirement of the DC-9 and accelerated delivery of the 717 is actually what saved the company from bankruptcy. I'm assuming the current lease rates are reasonable, or Airtran would have been long gone. The engines are all owned by Rolls-Royce, so it's "power by the hour", factored into the operating cost. I expect GK to call me any day, to ask me what to do.

 

[meanstreak]

From what I was told the lease rates are horrible. They started out cheap but become more and more expensive over time. Southwest didn't know this until they looked at the books.

 

[Flying the Line]

I heard the company plans to retire 31 classics next year and take delivery of 25+ 800s, so the future of the 717 looks good so far.

 

[texman]

33 800's. Fact.

 

[Mickey D]

I'm looking forward to the day when i walk up to the gate and think to myself, "cr*p, a -700 all day?!?"