Who will be Southwest's merger partner?

[ASADFW7]

I had a dream last night it was an LBFM carrier.

 

[FBN0223]

I predict Frontier! Or maybe that's wishful thinking...ssshhhhh....

Frontier is my guess as well. Of course, there are no fleet commonalities but the following positives with this transaction make up for that fact.

1) Southwest would get the primo gates on the A concourse in Denver.
2) They would get a labor group that is motivated and customer orientated which would fit well into the Southwest system.
3) Huge increase in Denver market share and elimination of a competitor in that same market.
4) Frontier is really cheap right now.

 

[Green Banana]

Frontier is my guess as well. Of course, there are no fleet commonalities but the following positives with this transaction make up for that fact.

1) Southwest would get the primo gates on the A concourse in Denver.
2) They would get a labor group that is motivated and customer orientated which would fit well into the Southwest system.
3) Huge increase in Denver market share and elimination of a competitor in that same market.
4) Frontier is really cheap right now.

So buy a cheep airline that has no fleet commonality and dump all their aircraft? Not to mention this does nothing about their frequent flyer riot over not being able to get to Hawaii?

 

[GuppyWN]

I don't think it's a bad plan at all.

Screw Hawaii. We'll knock that door down later.

Gup

 

[Hamburger]

We are so bad, maybee you should go and talk with some TWA pilots and see how AA treated them.

Every TWA pilot I know has a number at American.

 

[STL717]

Every TWA pilot I know has a number at American.

And some of those TWA pilots lost 15 years of seniority. That number is worth very little.

Thanks again APA.

 

[Fubijaakr]

I still think the best bet is Alaska. And I just thought of ANOTHER reason:

LUV gets 100+ 737s, 1500+ qualified pilots AND 100 options on the Boeing line.

If you call Boeing and ask for a 737 today, they say, "When in 2014 would you like to take delivery?"

 

[PCL_128]

If you call Boeing and ask for a 737 today, they say, "When in 2014 would you like to take delivery?"

Unfortunately, they can now say "call AirTran, they're selling a bunch of them."

 

[QCappy]

I still think the best bet is Alaska. And I just thought of ANOTHER reason:

LUV gets 100+ 737s, 1500+ qualified pilots AND 100 options on the Boeing line.

If you call Boeing and ask for a 737 today, they say, "When in 2014 would you like to take delivery?"

However, by adding Alaska's 737s you also add the -800s and 900s that require four flight attendants instead of three. So what? Well that adds complexity and inefficiencies to schedules, crew costs go up and it fundamentally changes the way they can schedule crews. Also Alaskas operations in the state of Alaska are expensive and are usually the cause of serious headaches with the entire operation during the winter time. Efficiency goes out the window. Also the freighter/combi aircraft cannot be turned efficiently due to pallet loading. Just my two cents.

Actually delivery slots are available. Just because there are hundreds on order doesn't mean they are all wanted now. Many us airlines are delaying deliveries. American was able to increase their deliveries for this year and next.

 

[ReverseSensing]

However, by adding Alaska's 737s you also add the -800s and 900s that require four flight attendants instead of three. So what? Well that adds complexity and inefficiencies to schedules, crew costs go up and it fundamentally changes the way they can schedule crews.

Just because the retards in marketing and crew planning at the two AAG regional airlines can't find their own backsides with both hands and detailed map doesn't mean SWA suffers from the same lack of imagination and ability.