When Will SWA have a Regional?

[FN FAL]

The recent news of SWA expanding at MDW has me wondering when SWA will have it's own brand of feeders.

 

[theo]

Saw a story the other day where Jerry Atkin of Skywest said they have already made a proposal to SWA...time will tell

 

[Waitin' On LUV]

I can't see Southwest having a feeder. The only way RJ's are profitable are in a Hub and Spoke system. the cost per seat mile is too high to be competitive with narrow body a/c in a point to point system. Just ask ACA. The other down side is you lose operational/quality control of your product.

 

[NuGuy]

I have to agree. SWA doesn't need the feed, and most RJ operators require way, way too much "subsidy" to operate. If they can't pull their own weight, SWA won't go near them.


Besides, thats what ATA's job now...

Nu

 

[FlyBoeingJets]

SWA is investing in a carrier with larger aircraft (mainline). Will SWA help ATA to exapnd?

Is ATA still talking about going international and getting 767s?

I wonder how the regional feed would work.

 

[CapnVegetto]

I don't see SWA getting a regional. It doesn't fit in with their business plan. SWA goes into only somewhat larger cities where they know they can make money. Why would they want to fly a high cost 50 or 70 seat RJ into East Bejesus Utah and start losing money? That's what the legacy carriers are for.

 

[kevdog]

Why would they want to fly a high cost 50 or 70 seat RJ into East Bejesus Utah and start losing money? That's what the legacy carriers are for.

And JetBlue with their 90 seat RJs.

 

[bestpilot]

I don't see SWA getting a regional. It doesn't fit in with their business plan. SWA goes into only somewhat larger cities where they know they can make money. Why would they want to fly a high cost 50 or 70 seat RJ into East Bejesus Utah and start losing money? That's what the legacy carriers are for.

Don Vegetto, like I don't wants to be upsettin you and your "family", since I saw Da Godfather, and I aint wantin to be swimmin wit da fishes, but never say never, my brother from a Sicilian Mother.

I gots to agree that the CASM thing for the 50-70 seat RJ can be some bad Kharma, but duuuuude, if SWA buys the Tranny, then it comes wit all dem 100 sumptin seat RJs known as the B-717. Da bonus for the SWA is they can gets mucho 737-700s and not be havin to be worryin bout competin wit da Tranny, cause theyd all be parts of da same team.

You thinkin I should put down the brewski now? Hey, duudes, who woulda ever be thinkin dat the SWA would be in the code share bizz-niz wit ATA? So what I'm hyposizing aint all that whacked. If you be thinkin it is though, Don Vegetto, I'll just be kissin your hand and givin mad props to "the family", please don't be whackin me or puttin no horse head on my mattress.

 

[CapnVegetto]

ROFLMFAO!

Dude, whatever you're drinkin' I want some!!!

 

[HalinTexas]

It's impossible to argue with a southern white boy trying to act "urban."

 

[FDJ2]

The recent news of SWA expanding at MDW has me wondering when SWA will have it's own brand of feeders.

If they want to remain profitable they'll avoid feeders. SWA likes low costs, RJs are high cost aircraft.

 

[atldc9]

Shutte America was started with the idea of feeding Southwest in the Northeast, with stage lengths under 300 nm. Then Southwest started flying in the Northeast, and there went SA's business plan.

The original owners of Shuttle America spent some serious time, around 18 months, working in Dallas with SWA on the plan.

You never know...

 

[Jim Smyth]

We already have a feeder. Its called the automobile! ;-)

 

[Floatplane]

What 90 seat RJ's does jetBlue Have?

And JetBlue with their 90 seat RJs.

I believe you might want to check your facts. jetBlue is getting the EMB-190 in the 100 seat configuration.

Cheers!

 

[PastFastMover]

Non of the large aircraft operators that are profitable own commuter feed. Like someone already said. Their feed is the automobile or maybe the bus. Best way to go into the red is to use a commuter feed that you have to guarantee a profit for or pay per departure.

 

[PCL_128]

And JetBlue with their 90 seat RJs.

Since when is a 100 seat airplane an RJ? Some -9s are only 78 seats and aren't considered RJs, but a 100 seat Embraer is? Give me a break. This isn't an RJ and shouldn't be paid like one.

 

[SRJ]

SWA will never have a feeder due to the fact AirTran already tried the Air Wisconsin 50-seat CRJ thing and cut them from the team due to the high cost.

 

[Indypilot]

I can't see Southwest having a feeder. The only way RJ's are profitable are in a Hub and Spoke system. the cost per seat mile is too high to be competitive with narrow body a/c in a point to point system. Just ask ACA. The other down side is you lose operational/quality control of your product.

Wow, what a great analysis sherlock. According to your analysis, Independence should actually be making money considering we are a hub and spoke airline. We don't do any point to point flying anymore. ALL flights either orginate or end in IAD.

First of all, Southwest might eventually have to do something to expand. Eventually Southwest will run out of places to profitably fly a 130 some seat airplane. That time might not come for many many years, but it could happen.

Next, FDJ2, RJ's are high cost PER SEAT MILE, they are also high revenue PER SEAT MILE. Which makes more sense, flying a 130 some seat into a market that demands 50 seats, or flying a 50 seat airplane.

So if southwest runs out of places to profitably fly the 130 some seat airplane, they could either stagnate, continue to grow with larger airplanes, or continue to grow with smaller airplanes. It is unlikely that they would contract out to a regional if they did go with smaller airplanes, they would probably keep them in house ala jet blue.

Yes, it is unlikely, but don't throw the possibility out the window either.

 

[kevdog]

Since when is a 100 seat airplane an RJ? Some -9s are only 78 seats and aren't considered RJs, but a 100 seat Embraer is? Give me a break. This isn't an RJ and shouldn't be paid like one.

Sorry, they should at least be paid 45% more than a 70 seat RJ. So first year FO's would make $32 / Hr. then. Oh, just checked their 190 pay and it is $37 / Hr. Go Jet Blue!

Yes, I really like JetBlue! I am serious!!

 

[PHXFLYR]

When will Southwest get their own feeders you ask?
When hel.....er,I mean "Tahiti" freezes over....That's when!



PHXFLYR