Southwest upbeat about growth after AirTran merger

[PA16]

By TERRY MAXON / The Dallas Morning News

Southwest Airlines Co. wants its merger with AirTran Holdings Inc. to add up, not down.

Speaking to industry analysts Thursday, chairman and chief executive Gary Kelly said that Southwest doesn't intend to follow the path of other mergers in which the surviving carrier wound up smaller than its two predecessors.

Consolidation usually means "that you take Airline A plus Airline B, and one plus one is less than two," Kelly said. "That's not what we're contemplating here with AirTran."

Dallas-based Southwest officially is in a no-growth mode, and Kelly reiterated that that will remain the company's stance until Southwest closes its merger with AirTran, probably in the first half of 2011.

Full Article

 

[swamt]

By TERRY MAXON / The Dallas Morning News

Southwest Airlines Co. wants its merger with AirTran Holdings Inc. to add up, not down.

Speaking to industry analysts Thursday, chairman and chief executive Gary Kelly said that Southwest doesn't intend to follow the path of other mergers in which the surviving carrier wound up smaller than its two predecessors.

Consolidation usually means "that you take Airline A plus Airline B, and one plus one is less than two," Kelly said. "That's not what we're contemplating here with AirTran."

Dallas-based Southwest officially is in a no-growth mode, and Kelly reiterated that that will remain the company's stance until Southwest closes its merger with AirTran, probably in the first half of 2011.

Full Article

Has anyone else noticed alot of talk about Alaska lately?? I have read 2 or 3 stories now about how we could easily goto Alaska after merger is complete.

 

[SharoninSAT]

Has anyone else noticed a lot of talk about Alaska lately?? I have read 2 or 3 stories now about how we could easily go to Alaska after merger is complete.

Haven't heard any talk of Alaska routes but it is
mentioned in this article...

Article

 

[SharoninSAT]

By TERRY MAXON / The Dallas Morning News

Southwest Airlines Co. wants its merger with AirTran Holdings Inc. to add up, not down.

Speaking to industry analysts Thursday, chairman and chief executive Gary Kelly said that Southwest doesn't intend to follow the path of other mergers in which the surviving carrier wound up smaller than its two predecessors.

Consolidation usually means "that you take Airline A plus Airline B, and one plus one is less than two," Kelly said. "That's not what we're contemplating here with AirTran."

Dallas-based Southwest officially is in a no-growth mode, and Kelly reiterated that that will remain the company's stance until Southwest closes its merger with AirTran, probably in the first half of 2011.

Full Article

"We firmly believe that both AirTran and Southwest are stronger together and can accomplish more, faster than either can on its own. The communities we serve will benefit from a stronger and more competitive low-cost, low-fare airline network".

 

[SharoninSAT]

Has anyone else noticed alot of talk about Alaska lately?? I have read 2 or 3 stories now about how we could easily go to Alaska after merger is complete.

Gary confirmed Alaska and Hawaii service at the Dallas MTTF last night
...but no projected start dates given yet.

 

[SharoninSAT]

.
Southwest Airlines, AirTran, others testify before Senate panel about merger

 

[swamt]

Gary confirmed Alaska and Hawaii service at the Dallas MTTF last night
...but no projected start dates given yet.

Ok. Thank you for the info. I will pass it on...