WN Fleet at 500 B737's

[N924PS]

Southwest just added the 500th B737 to their fleet.

While USAirways can't figure out how to get the fleet launched on schedule, have passengers and their checked luggage arrive together, and generally runs a poor airline, the orange energizer 737's just keep on a comin.

Not as many as planned in 2008, but EXPANDING THE FLEET nonetheless.

USAirways furloughees, keep sending those cards and letters to WN, it will still be a better place, even if somehow the Nic Award is vacated or modified.

 

[Whatnow?]

That's great to have 500 A/C in your fleet!.....At one time USAir had over 500 A/C in it's fleet at the Piedmont merger and it was truly a BIG Airline! BUT 500 737's isn't anything to jump up and down about!

 

[wings396]

The combined fleet following the PI/US merger in 1989, was actually 454 Mainline A/C. I have touched on this topic several times before, stating just how pathetic todays fleet numbers are. After 18 years, and yet another merger with HP the combined fleet is still below 400 A/C. I don't know the exact number anymore, but has been a long ride backwards either way. I recall that at one time the company and ALPA had an agreement to keep the Mainline fleet at a minumum of 379, and this was PRIOR to the merger with HP. I know that at some point that promise by the company went by the wayside along with many others.
Keep in mind that the SWA fleet count of 500 A/C means a lot given that they are ALL Mainline A/C, and they are ALL operated and handled my Mainline employees. No mish-mosh of Express operators,no friggen RJ's that are the size of a DC-9, no outsourced Express stations, and so on. The fact that SWA has been able to GROW their fleet while making a profit speaks volumes itself. This circus of an airline has gone thru no less than 3 mergers, and has managed to squander away most of what they have merged with. How the He!! you could put all of these Airlines together, and manage to shrink the fleet to a number less than what it was 18 years ago baffles me. Maybe if the Pilot group and ALPA didn't let the company have a "Blank Check" for the last 10 years when it came to the RJ Scope language, US would have a fleet of 500 A/C today as well.
These Jokers make it sound like a big deal when they place a "Large" A/C order. They order 100, and get rid of 110. The term "Growth" at this Airline, is non-existant.

 

[Hello Newman]

AT THE SAME TIME, WN HAS HAD THE SAME MANAGEMENT TEAM IN PLACE FOR A LONG TIME, HERB KELLEHER, WHO RECENTLY RETIRED,RAN THE COMPANY OF MOST OF ITS 36 YEAR EXISTENCE. BUILDING WN INTO THE FIERCE COMPETITOR THEY ARE TODAY. THAT'S REAL LEADERSHIP. UNLIKE WOLF/SIEGEL/LAKEFIELD WHO TAKE THE HELM, LINE THIER POCKETS AND LEAVE.

 

[USstew23]

AT THE SAME TIME, WN HAS HAD THE SAME MANAGEMENT TEAM IN PLACE FOR A LONG TIME, HERB KELLEHER, WHO RECENTLY RETIRED,RAN THE COMPANY OF MOST OF ITS 36 YEAR EXISTENCE. BUILDING WN INTO THE FIERCE COMPETITOR THEY ARE TODAY. THAT'S REAL LEADERSHIP. UNLIKE WOLF/SIEGEL/LAKEFIELD WHO TAKE THE HELM, LINE THIER POCKETS AND LEAVE.

Or how about the ones who take the helm, line their pockets, fill everyone with BS, pass out rose colored glasses and stay to line somemore.

 

[REACC1]

Just a thought. Wow, this is a first.

http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articl...13-17795102.htm

 

[SKY HIGH]

AT THE SAME TIME, WN HAS HAD THE SAME MANAGEMENT TEAM IN PLACE FOR A LONG TIME, HERB KELLEHER, WHO RECENTLY RETIRED,

OHHHH, HERB. I bet he was downing Wild Turkey when he had that lightbulb moment----> "let's compete against the carrier with the HIGHEST COSTS"

then.........chase em from Calif, Florida, BWI...go UpState NY, and the final nail in the coffin, invade their priced Hubs of PHL and PIT.

It will certainly be interesting to see their next move to maintain any cost advantage.


only stating opinions.

 

[REACC1]

U was custom made for southwest. Wn exists because of U.

 

[Hope777]

Agreed, WN has grown much stronger thanks to U, but the airline that gained the most because of U destroying PSA was America West.

 

[SKY HIGH]

Agreed, WN has grown much stronger thanks to U, but the airline that gained the most because of U destroying PSA was America West.

sky high states: America West was the last surviving airline from the 80's. Prior to that, Midway.

only stating opinions

 

[mga707]

sky high states: America West was the last surviving airline from the 80's. Prior to that, Midway.

only stating opinions

Untrue. Midwest started scheduled service the same year as HP (1983), and are, until their almost inevitable takeover by AirTran, still surviving.

 

[WCT]

Untrue. Midwest started scheduled service the same year as HP (1983), and are, until their almost inevitable takeover by AirTran, still surviving.

Midwest Express I might add, now Midwest Airlines. They are a express carrier. America West may have what you call a "regional airline" but it was a "major" airline for many years. The biggest on the west besides Southwest. i thought PSA lost all there business because of WN? :huh:

 

[WCT]

Midwest is NOT an express carrier. It's an actual honest to God Airline run by people who understand Customer Service, a concept lost on The Sandcastle. EVERYBODY gets treated like a CP on Midwest. Their slogan "The best care in the air" is actually true. They have dismal on time numbers because they will hold a plane for ONE connecting customer. I've seen them do it because it was me! US Airways right now can't even tell with certainty who is on their planes thanks to SHARES.

Midwest does have an express carrier called Miswest Connect that runs a fleet of Dornier 328 Jets and the Beech1900D. It's a crying shame that their B1900's are cleaner than most Mainline Jets at US Airways. Which if you think about it for a second is about the saddest thing to happen to a good airline like US.

Forklift Joe if he gets ahold of them will do the same thing Doug has tried to do with US Airways and will most likely have similar results.

Was I talking about US Air? NO! I was pointing out America West was a "major" airline for years. Midwest has always been express, sub regional, and is not a "major". I am happy they offer you such great services, but good luck getting all over the world with them?! I am happy they give good customer service too, but there was a time when all the airlines that make up the "new" US Airways were just as great!! 😀

 

[SKY HIGH]

Untrue. Midwest started scheduled service the same year as HP (1983), and are, until their almost inevitable takeover by AirTran, still surviving.

wow, you rock. I remember this trivia question from years and years ago. How many of the hundreds of airlines that started in the 80's are still operating. The answer said, Amer. West and Midway. No one ever challenged that answer until YOU.
You're right, Midwest started 11Jun, 1984.


0nly stating opinions

 

[Hope777]

Midwest Express I might add, now Midwest Airlines. They are a express carrier. America West may have what you call a "regional airline" but it was a "major" airline for many years. The biggest on the west besides Southwest. i thought PSA lost all there business because of WN? :huh:

No, PSA was purchased by USAir in the late 80's and then DESTROYED by USAir Marketing. Once the MD-80's were removed from U's Fleet, there was NOTHING left of PSA.