XJT bid for airtran

[Ponchus pilot]

Heard a rumor that XJt had made a bid for Airtran. Anyone?

 

[Ty Webb]

AirTran's market cap is about one and a half times the size of XJT, so they wouldn;t be buying us . . . .and I don't see us buying any RJ operator, after our experience with AWAC, so I would say that it's just another one of those rumors that pilots have been dreaming up ever since the autopilot was invented.

In the two and a half years I have been here, I have heard rumors regarding ATA, AWA, Midwest, CAL, Frontier and others. Of course none of them ever happened.

We're making money and have a bright future. I don't think anyone wants to muck that up with a merger.

 

[LearLove]

Hello Ty,

For the right price anything is for sale.

 

[Ty Webb]

True, but in this situation, it seems like just so much more mental masturbation . . . . .

 

[Ty Webb]

Les:


Maybe you should try to learn a little more about the business world in general, and mergers/acquisitions in particular before you get up on your soapbox.

AirTran's market capitalization is what matters. Not the number of employees, not the amount of profit last year, and not the fact that XJT has a cheerleader like you on this board.

The market has placed a value on Airtran that is one and a half times that of your beloved XJT, and that is what is important here. In fact, the market values AAI over CAL . . . if you want to keep the maturbation going, just change it to AAI buying CAL and XJT.

BTW, I really have to wonder at how someone develops such a deep-seated anger toward someone they never met. I think you have some really deep personal issues that you need to address.

Good Luck!

PS, While you were enjoying your $7,995.00 worth of B1900 SIC training, I was writing business plans for a number of corporations . . . . . so, I guess I'll have that to fall back on if your beloved XJT "buys" AirTran and puts me on the street . . . . Heh-heh.

 

[Steeler Fan]

Les Paul and Joe Vee?

Are Les Paul and Joe Vee one in the same?

 

[Ty Webb]

Re: Les Paul and Joe Vee?

Well, they both seem to have a lot of latent hostility.

 

[SWA/FO]

This reminds me of that movie anger management. The scene when Adam Sandler is on the airplane and the FA starts giving him sh1t.

 

[FLB717]

LOL,

 

[Bad-Andy]

It's totally feasible for us to buy a company with a larger market cap. (I don't personally buy into the Air Tran rumor, but anything is possible). It's all about the amount of leverage X-Jet can come up with. With CAL backing them up, it becomes possible (it just doen't make any financial sense...).

As for stapling them to the bottom of our list... hahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha.............

Ever heard of CrossAir. Yeah their pilots really benefitted...

 

[Ty Webb]

I think if you look at the Balance sheets for the three companies, you'll see that Airtran is also much stronger financially. CAL and XJT have enormous debt, while Airtran actually has more money than debt . . . . what a concept.

 

[FLB717]

As per Bob F. and Joe L. both have said we are the buyers not the sellers, however anything can happen. Ty could marry Les's daughter and Sushi is made the food of choice in Arkansas.

 

[Mr Hat]

Whoa easy there partner.....CAL and XJet have enormous debt the difference is that XJet is doing so well that they are double paying on alot of their debt. The debt we have at XJet is due to the spin off and CAL controlling us into buying our own stock. We are guarenteed a profit based on the Capacity purchase agreement for crying out loud. Not that I think we are going to buy anyone but XJet is not in any trouble. That is unless CAL runs into trouble at some point in the future.

 

[SWA/FO]

Hey your avtar looks like Siegel.

Anybody ever read the book Hard Landings? People buy airlines all the time with no money. "Leveraged buyout"

 

[Mr Hat]

Lol, it kinda does look like him doesnt it. Although I wouldnt know for sure....when he was at "Continental Express" he wouldn't come to the crew room again after he told us at a meeting that we were over paid.....that was when I was being paid 13.00 an hour to fly a BE1900. Jet Captains were running at about 35.00 an hour or so.

Anyhoo, I wouldnt expect Xjet to buy Airtran. Would it suprise me if they did? Not really, but will add this. Most of the time when something significant like a buyout happens, we wont know about it until its a done deal. Those Exec's are pretty tight lipped when it comes to SEC law...none of them wants to go to jail for providing insider info.

 

[FLB717]

True Dat!

 

[350DRIVER]

XJT buying AirTran, get real.....


Les, you have got to be joking?.... He!! would have a better chance freezing over before this happens.. Yeah yeah I know you would rather be flying a little larger jet (B717)

3 5 0

 

[Sam Fisher]

XJT buying AirTran, get real.....


Les, you have got to be joking?.... He!! would have a better chance freezing over before this happens.. Yeah yeah I know you would rather be flying a little larger jet (B717)

3 5 0

1. As some have said above, it is quite possible for an airline such as XJT to purchase and/or merge with an airline such as AAI.

2. I'm not so sure Les Paul flies for XJT, from his past posts, but maybe he does.

3. Market Cap has zip to do with whether or not a company can/will purchase another company.

4. Debt/Equity ratio - same thing....means nothing in this analysis.

5. If XJT Holdings wanted to buy AAI, it could most certainly structure a deal with AAI, provided AAI was a willing seller. Of course, there is always the hostile takeover aspect as well (read: JO buying ACA).

6. Some of you guys need to get off the high horse that since AAI flies an airplane with more than one FA that it would preclude an airline such as XJT (with airplanes with only 1 FA) from buying AAI.

7. Leverage....Leverage...Leverage...a very powerful tool.

8. Everything is for sale - for a price.

9. I'm sure this is a rumor, but it doesn't mean it couldn't happen.

10. Couldn't think of anything but 10 looks like a nice round number.

Sam

 

[Stifler's Mom]

. . . .and I don't see us buying any RJ operator, after our experience with AWAC...

What is the deal with your "experience" with AWAC? Were there problems? Did passengers complain about not riding on a 717?

 

[FLB717]

Well if market cap etc has nothing to do with a buy out then I don’t see why AAI could not buy DAL, CAL, USAir, UAL.

None of this or that will happen.

 

[catIIIc]

I know Skywest is going to buy Airtran. I know this because our CEO talked once about the B717. Or how about this one the B717 was seen in St. George Utah, so we have to be recieving them. HA HA tongue planted firmly in cheek.

Whatever you hear do not believe. Before the UAL- UsAir announcement everyone was talking about UAL and AWA merging, and when AA bought TWA no one had a clue. Everything that happens in this industry along the lines of buyouts or mergers happen all of sudden with no lead in announcements or press leaks. Just stand by and wait.

Makes for good discussions though

Take Care

 

[Ty Webb]

What is the deal with your "experience" with AWAC? Were there problems? Did passengers complain about not riding on a 717?

I don't know about that . . . but our management found that we could operate the 717 on the same routes for only a little more money, with over twice the seats to sell. If you want to know the nuts and bolts of it, you can listen to the webcast of the 4th Q earnings conference, where they discuss it in detail.

Also, the dispatch reliablilty/completion factor was nowhere near the 99.6% we have with the 717, which resulted in more cancelled flights and p.o.'d pax.

I will be sorry to see the Air Wisconsin guys go, because they are a great bunch of guys (and gals). I rode the jumpseat plenty, and enjoyed meeting all of them. Hope this doesn't screw things up too much for you; especially those who may have moved to ATL (shudder).

 

[Stifler's Mom]

Thanks Ty, see you around Ramps 4 and 5.

 

[atldc9]

A more true measure of the cost of buying a publicly traded company is referred to as its' ENTERPRISE VALUE. It can be found roughly by adding market cap plus balance sheet debt minus current assets.

For Airtran, that would be roughly:

Market Cap $1 billion
Balance sheet debt $250 million
Current Assets(mostly cash) $390 million

Enterprise value =$860 million

Obviously this is an approximation, but you get the point. We have too much cash in relation to our market cap, which makes us an attractive buyout target. The company knows this as well, and is probably going to pay cash for the 1st 2 737's as a result. That way, you move the cash into fixed assets, but the amounts stay on the ballance sheet as an asset.

I hope the buyout possiblility doesn't happen.

 

[Ty Webb]

Thanks for tying it up in a neater package (market cap + balance sheet info).

Our Enterprise value is about $50 million more than XJT.

As for all that free cash floating around, if it is causing a problem for them, they can just send it on over, Rover.

 

[Fly-By-Cable]

If I remember correctly AirTran tried very hard to obtain all this cash thru out the 2003. Joe mentioned in one of his web casts, that it's good to have all this cash on hands in case some opportunities present them self in a near future. (like sell out at US Airways). He also mention that they could always pay cash for some 737s. And like Ty said if all that cash will cause them all these problems...Contract 2005 is just around the corner.
And as someone already said here, true merger or buyout information of a public company will not leakout.

 

[CatfishVT9]

AirTran- CRJ divorce

The word put out at my AirTran Interview yesterday is that the partnership worked well, but they had many complaints about not having a business class. That was a major factor in the decision.

Catfish

 

[Ty Webb]

Les,

In all of your posts on this board, I have yet to read one that is insightful, informative, or entertaining. In short, you add nothing to this board, and you seem to be a very negative person.

It is sad that someone who supposedly has such a great job can be such a bitter and unhappy person.

Maybe you should look into your company's E.A.P.

Regards,

TW

PS., I have a great deal of sympathy for furloughees; however, each person is an individual, and being a furloughee doesn't mean that they should be coddled or held to a different standard.

 

[Steeler Fan]

Les

Who do you fly 767s for?


Which "pond" are you flying over and where are you based?

 

[FLB717]

Les never states who he works for. Only that he is a real pilot flying a big airplane for a real airline. But I doubt MS Flight Sim counts.