Who will be Southwest's merger partner?

[DesertFalcon]

Maybe, Southwest should get aggressive and buy US Airways, before United gets them? That would lock out United and they have to go with Alaska and AirTran.

This might actually be better for the industry in the long run?

More balance.

 

[Green Banana]

Biggest problem with Alaska is that they are profitable and most importantly not for sale. Most of the members of the board of directors are very successful in other jobs and love the idea of being on the board of a major airline. They don't need or want the buy out.

 

[DesertFalcon]

Biggest problem with Alaska is that they are profitable and most importantly not for sale. Most of the members of the board of directors are very successful in other jobs and love the idea of being on the board of a major airline. They don't need or want the buy out.

Could they fend off and "Hostile Takeover" if SWA wanted them?

 

[PCL_128]

I doubt SWA would be interested in a hostile takeover. Doesn't really fit with their culture.

 

[FatesPawn]

Your point about being unionized is well taken, but I'm guessing that you'd have a tough time finding a Morris Air pilot who isn't tickled pink by the way things turned out.

You'd be surprised. Not that they aren't happy about their job today.... just still carrying a grudge about past actions. Not the majority, but a vocal few.

 

[FatesPawn]

That's an interesting take on it, and I think that works when dealing with distressed smaller airlines like ATA, but when dealing with an airline the size of AirTran, Alaska, etc..., those sorts of agreements aren't really workable. Unless we are in distress and in bankruptcy, the shareholders would never accept a deal that allows the gradual destruction of their airline in favor of the new codeshare partner.

Good points. However, as in the Muse/Transtar deal, SWAPA has a history of being, shall we say, malleable when it comes to alter-ego language. Picture a scenario, where SWA buys alter-ego X for a %+ of the stock value. Share holders at alter-ego X are pleased with the nice return. But the new company is take private.

Now, SWA and alter-ego X codeshare while SWA slowly moves into routes it likes and pulls down routes it doesn't want carrier X flying. Then when they are pleased with the result, they spin off the alter ego - airplanes and all ala-Air Wisconsin back when UAL gutted them and keep the new gates, routes and new hires that came along as SWA expanded.

The What-if's are innumerable, but the potential is still there.

Whatever happens, SWA will be the tortoise in the race.

-fate

 

[Esprit]

Fatespawn, I know about a dozen ATA Pilots that tried to ride on Southwest this weekend to attend the Jetblue seminar in Orlando, all denied cabin seats. Don't know if it was a gate agent thing or a new policy thing, either way there were a bunch of us that didn't make it. Guess I was naive to think that all those years bending over backwards to get you guys back and forth from work and to Hawaii would pay off. As far as the America West deal, it came after Airtran's offer. It was almost a done deal until SWA stepped in and screwed it up. Unfortunately none of the employee groups got a say in the matter.

Personally, I don't know how any of the ******************************bags in ATA or WN management can sleep at nite.


ESPRIT

 

[alaskaplt]

Alaska is going to be mostly 737-800's. Isn't swa more about more flights on the smaller 700's. Not that that is a huge deal, but just curious.

 

[Whataburger]

HA! I'm no money expert, that's for sure, and yes, SWA has a stock buy-back program in place. Find a shareholder and ask what that's done for them the last several years!

I bought LUV after Sept 11, 2001, at $11/share. Sold at $22. Bought a couple of months ago at $11.11, made 15% so far. Got lucky I suppose, but would rather be lucky than good. However, does anyone want my 600 shares of "U?"

 

[328dude]

I actually think Alaska would be too expensive to aquire or merge with in my humble opinion. Lot's of baggage.

 

[freightdogfred]

If, NWA and DAL merge, and CAL and UAL merge.

What will become of Southwest?
What company is going to marry Southwest?

Any ideas?

Call Kit Darby, he'll know.

 

[atafan]

Do yourself a favor.

When it comes from doing anything with SWA,

R U N A W A Y F A S T ! !

SWA is a shark and will devour or destroy your company if you have anything to do with it. SWA will only get what they want from you, eat the meat from the bone and then discard your dry dead bones.

They will smile and call you friend every step of the way and when they are done doing you in every conceivable position you will be shunned like the fat girl they don't want to be seen with later.

I don't wish a SWA affiliation on my worse enemy.

Have a nice day and Good Luck!

 

[The Victors]

Do yourself a favor.

When it comes from doing anything with SWA,

R U N A W A Y F A S T ! !

SWA is a shark and will devour or destroy your company if you have anything to do with it. SWA will only get what they want from you, eat the meat from the bone and then discard your dry dead bones.

They will smile and call you friend every step of the way and when they are done doing you in every conceivable position you will be shunned like the fat girl they don't want to be seen with later.

I don't wish a SWA affiliation on my worse enemy.

Have a nice day and Good Luck!

and I guess the management at ATA had nothing to do with the airline's demise.....

 

[FlyinGuy]

Blaming SWA is just a way to make people feel better. It sucks what happened to ATA, but it rests on the shoulders of their management team. When you start mixing companies business plans, someone will always get the short end of the stick. All airlines are in business for the investors and stockholders, the sad part is when something gets messed up faithful employees are sent down the river.

 

[Whine Lover]

Yes it should be blamed squarely on ATA's inept management buffoons....Oh, and maybe, just a little bit, on ATA's CEO John Denison.

You know, the John Denison that was a former COO at SWA and who was "inserted" as ATA's new CEO and Chairman of the Board.

He was certainly not a buffoon, and executed his assigned task quite well.

YKMKR

 

[Lear70]

You'd be surprised. Not that they aren't happy about their job today.... just still carrying a grudge about past actions. Not the majority, but a vocal few.

True.

I know a couple of them through some 727 CA friends I made when I was at Express One. Happy for the paycheck and stability years later, but NOT happy for the way it went down and some are still irritated about it.

Some people find SWA to be as benevolent as they claim. Some don't. At the end of the day, SWA is a BUSINESS and is operated like one, for THEIR OWN bottom line. They may not deliberately go out of their way to hose someone, but I doubt seriously they'll let a few pilots on the street at another airline get in the way of profitability or stock performance.

Just like any other business. Plan accordingly.

 

[DesertFalcon]

Here's one really out there.

Maybe Southwest will buy the dying Virgin America and make an offer for Virgin Atlantic.

I told you it was way out there!

 

[DesertFalcon]

I actually think Alaska would be too expensive to aquire or merge with in my humble opinion. Lot's of baggage.

In what way, would it be too expensive?

 

[DesertFalcon]

So, more indications something going on at Southwest.
What are they doing?

Are they going to merge with someone?
Are they going to beat up on someone?

Or, are they just going to blow away in the wind?

 

[FL_Jumpseat]

Perhaps LUV could buy the ETOPS cert. from ATA and maybe even the 737-800's. And not have to "merge" with anyone...