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Southwest prefers federal regulations and restrictions over free market competition when it benefits them to do so. On the contrary, Southwest opposes government interference with the Wright Amendment because it restricts their ability to compete in the DFW area. I guess this lifts the veil off the notion that Southwest can successfully compete in any market with any airline. Southwest is pulling out of markets where they cannot compete or make a profit and now they want Uncle Sam to protect their bottom line against free-market competition.Many airlines and airport sponsors lining up to oppose Delta/US Airways slot swap.
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-08-30/southwest-air-objects-to-delta-s-proposed-new-york-slot-trade.html?cmpid=yhoo
http://www.airportbusiness.com/online/printer.jsp?id=47153
Now there's a great post!Southwest prefers federal regulations and restrictions over free market competition when it benefits them to do so. On the contrary, Southwest opposes government interference with the Wright Amendment because it restricts their ability to compete in the DFW area. I guess this lifts the veil off the notion that Southwest can successfully compete in any market with any airline. Southwest is pulling out of markets where they cannot compete or make a profit and now they want Uncle Sam to protect their bottom line against free-market competition.
They must really be feeling the pinch from not charging for checked bags.
I seem to recall that Parker and company were some of the loudest voices for the Government handouts following 9/11. After they secured their funding from the Airline Stabilization Board, they opposed other airlines from getting the same type of assistance. They also have know the inside of US BK court system. I wonder if that is a restriction on a free market? Put a bad business plan out there, run it in the ground and then when it doesn't work, hide from your creditors, slash your employee pay and give you "new" management a bonus for coming up with a new plan." prefers federal regulations and restrictions over free market competition when it benefits them to do so."
You could put any airline's name in that statement and it'd be true.
Jim
Well the vultures feel that they once again found a Southwest carcass to feed on. Never mind that airports, B6, Virgin are also objecting, lets go after WN the crybaby! Ever since this swap was announced, DufUS thought they can run it their way. They picked the carriers they wanted, and cried when it didn't go their way. Now they want to cut the number of slots ans feel that everyone should be OK with it. The pots and the Kettles have united to call everybody else 'black!'Southwest prefers federal regulations and restrictions over free market competition when it benefits them to do so. On the contrary, Southwest opposes government interference with the Wright Amendment because it restricts their ability to compete in the DFW area. I guess this lifts the veil off the notion that Southwest can successfully compete in any market with any airline. Southwest is pulling out of markets where they cannot compete or make a profit and now they want Uncle Sam to protect their bottom line against free-market competition.
They must really be feeling the pinch from not charging for checked bags.
except the concept seems to elude you that DL and WN and every other company will fight for what makes sense to them. If they can manage to find others who benefit from their actions - and more of them than not - they win.Well the vultures feel that they once again found a Southwest carcass to feed on. Never mind that airports, B6, Virgin are also objecting, lets go after WN the crybaby! Ever since this swap was announced, DufUS thought they can run it their way. They picked the carriers they wanted, and cried when it didn't go their way. Now they want to cut the number of slots ans feel that everyone should be OK with it. The pots and the Kettles have united to call everybody else 'black!'
This is turning into the low cost vs. the legacies vs. Delta-because the Delta cheerleader said so. But WN is the crybaby
The checked luggage fees will become the legacies and Delta's shrapnel as it will blow up in their faces once WN comes to town!
As Delta's Nero continues to fiddle, Datlanta will soon be occupied by LUV
It's funny how a hostile takeover attempt has made for strange bedfellows. Must be a peaceful coexistance thingy
If the real LCCs go after the legacies, there will be plenty of time to go after Delta
The Delta cheerleader always emphasizes what happens when WN enters a market and also informs us how WN is run by intelligent people. Since Delta has an 80 year history in aviation, its MO is easier to follow than a 40 year evolving bohemeth.
So the vultures may want to make sure that WN is down for the count, before you wave your Mission Accomplished banners. In the words of the famous Mr. Bugs Bunny-Of course you realize that this means WAR!
and you somehow think that WN isn't interested in their own bottom line? of course they are. And they darn well better be.Wah,wah, wah. Don't blame me because Delta is about to be subjected to an involuntary fornication situation.
DL/US have changed the rules and made the rules since this whole thing was announced and WN wanted in. You both(DL/US) couldn't care less about 'people's benefit' and we all know it's about Tempe and Datlanta's bottom line.
and you somehow think that WN isn't interested in their own bottom line? of course they are. And they darn well better be.
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DL and US created a deal that adds value to both companies by transferring assets that were underutilized. Despite lots of calls for the end of slots, the US to reposses all slots, etc... the Feds have taken the approach that the slots remain private property of the airlines... their only intent and their only action was to require that a certain amount of the slots be given to competitors that can check the potential for a carrier to hold 50% of the slots at an airport at which other airports cannot freely enter.
It's no different than what was required of AA/BA at LHR, resulting in a slot divestiture that DL chose to benefit from... but the slots remain AA/BA's, DL must pay rent for those slots to AA/BA, and other new entrant carriers - US, DL, CO, NW included, did not get all they wanted.
.
This slot swap is no different. There will be some nit picking over the details but AA/BA will remain dominant at LHR; DL will remain dominant at LGA; US will remain dominant at DCA.... until others are willing to spend the money to buy the assets that AA/BA, DL, or US have used to build their market positions, the rest of the industry will have to make do w/ what they have.
The only crying is and will be by those who didn't have the forethought to win in a competitive and limited access situation.
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Just to be clear, using the slots WN already has as a result of the merger w/ FL, they could offer enough seats to be the #3 carrier in each of the three airports - EWR, LGA, and DCA - if they upgraded all of their flights to their future 738s. If they gain 8 more slots each at DCA and LGA, highly likely since they can outbid just about anyone, they could be in a position to have half the seats AA has at LGA - the current #2 which won't change w/ the slot deal and #3 behind DL at DCA; although it is hard to know what DL will do at DCA after the slot deal.
Bottom line is that WN is in very good position at DCA and LGA as well as EWR already and the slot deal will only add even more seats.
Considering that WN didn't even serve LGA, DCA, or EWR until a few years ago, they have done pretty good and it will likely be good enough for them to bump one of the other network carriers in ranking in the next few years.
well, duh. Of course the slot swap was intended to benefit DL and US at the expense of its competitors.... that is the nature of competition. Doesn't really matter who it was.The point is that this whole slot swap was for the benefit of US and Delta. And they think they can call the shots, like picking and choosing the low cost carriers that will fill those slots.
Since WN got into the picture, DL and US have been trying to alter the agreement so that their MAIN competition doesn't get the upper hand. Continue to spin the obvious as you have proven to do already.
I still believe that if WN had just let you think you got your way with the original agreement, there would have been many strokes and heart attacks when FL became LUV! Surprise!
So lets keep spinning it to suit the Delta double-standard, but actions speak louder than bandwidth
I'm guessing you got beat up a lot as a kid! I know the swap was to benefit US and DL, but WN is protesting because they can't seem to hold up their end of the bargain, or finding loopholes to suit them AFTER the facts.well, duh. Of course the slot swap was intended to benefit DL and US at the expense of its competitors.... that is the nature of competition. Doesn't really matter who it was.
WN happened to seize upon the opportunity to cry that they were being shut out when in fact they already are or can be the solid #3 carrier in EWR, LGA, and DCA by upgrading just half of the slots they have to 738s once those a/c become available.
WN did what was good for WN... but they are hardly being relegated to the bottom of the heap even if they didn't get any slots as a result of the DL/US slot swap. They likely will, though, and I'm not even so sure that they talked the gov't into packaging the slots into sets of 8 just for their benefit - because money and the ability to use add'l slots are of no limitation to WN.
The only real question is whether DL and US should be allowed to operate up to 50% of the slots at these key airports; the gov't obviously thought long and hard about it and decided that it is ok - and they put remedies in place to ensure there are other strong competitors - although there might be a lot of people disappointed at how high WN prices seats on its slots in a few years; it is well established now that they are often not the lowest fare carrier either on specific flights or on average.
Unless the Feds back down, the deal will move forward, those who cried it was uncompetitive can start working on another song, and WN will manage to have built itself a very handsome presence in WAS and NYC in a very short period of time.
The only losers will be those airlines that weren't smart enough to come up w/ the deal in the first place or to figure out how to get a piece of it for themselves. DL, US, and WN all come out looking good because of the deal