The funny thing that caught my eye was one of the bullet points at the end of the article, where Barrett remarks about the propsed US/HP merger:
About the prospects of a merger between US Airways and America West Airlines, Barrett said America West Chief Executive Officer Doug Parker and US Airways Chief Executive Officer Bruce Lakefield "must be on drugs. I think they're crazy. I don't know why anybody in today's environment would want to add more woes to what they got. ... I don't know [if] the deal will come to pass."
The article also mentions WN would probably not be in PIT if it weren't for the US Airways cutbacks. With rumors of further cutbacks swirling, WN may have further opportunities in the future. She also mentions her distaste for the Wright Amendment and employees preferring PIT over PHL.
MaverickM11 From United States of America, joined Apr 2000, 15722 posts, RR: 47 Reply 3, posted (8 years 1 week 3 days 5 hours ago) and read 6088 times:
"Its in her best interests for them not to merge. This is what's expected."
Idunno 'bout that. No one I know in the industry thinks the HP/US merger is a good idea.
OPNLguy From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 5, posted (8 years 1 week 3 days 5 hours ago) and read 6086 times:
Quoting Gigneil (Reply 1): Its in her best interests for them not to merge. This is what's expected.
Maybe not. According to some folks, the merger would eventually kill both carriers off (and maybe Mesa too, since 75% of their traffic comes from the two airlines). Were that the case, she'd be cheering the merger on...
Don't know if that would actually happen or not, but Ms. Barrett is hardly alone in her opinion...even from folks that -don't- work for SWA...
September11 From United States of America, joined May 2004, 3623 posts, RR: 23 Reply 6, posted (8 years 1 week 3 days 5 hours ago) and read 6077 times:
Padcrasher From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 7, posted (8 years 1 week 3 days 5 hours ago) and read 6044 times:
They woudn't be in PIT if it were not for US cutbacks but what's the excuse for PHL?
They're now against the Wright Amendment because it's good for consumers but they had no problem lobbying against express train service between Dallas and Houston.?
And of course a sensible merger between HP/US that has protections for HP's cash position is a bad idea?
September11 From United States of America, joined May 2004, 3623 posts, RR: 23 Reply 8, posted (8 years 1 week 3 days 5 hours ago) and read 5946 times:
sorry that's Colleen Barrett in the picture above .. from Southwest.com
Commavia From United States of America, joined Apr 2005, 10189 posts, RR: 62 Reply 9, posted (8 years 1 week 3 days 4 hours ago) and read 5862 times:
Quoting Gigneil (Reply 1): Its in her best interests for them not to merge.
I completely disagree. I think an HP-US merger would be an absolute present for WN. It would distract both companies from their primary competitor -- WN -- and drive (perhaps hundreds) of millions of dollars in integration and cutover costs. In addition, there is no way on earth that a combined US-HP merger would result in an airline with comporable operating costs to WN. If Lakefield and Parker think that's going to happen, then I'm sorry, but Barrett is right -- they are smoking something. They both have much more complex and costly operational systems, US much much more so, and there is no way that they could ever get those down to a level to truly compete on a cost basis with WN. WN is probably praying that US and HP announce a merger!
ScottB From United States of America, joined Jul 2000, 6358 posts, RR: 34 Reply 10, posted (8 years 1 week 3 days 3 hours ago) and read 5757 times:
Quoting Gigneil (Reply 1): Its in her best interests for them not to merge. This is what's expected.
I'm going to throw my opinion with Commavia here -- it's entirely in their best interests for HP and US to merge, especially if they do believe that the merger would be a disaster. I also don't believe that Colleen would be one to prevaricate on this one -- and I don't believe it would be terribly sporting (or in-character) for her to say, "we hope they do merge because we think it would ultimately hasten the failure of two of our competitors."
America West has enough problems to face on its own what with a dwindling cash position. And now they're going to distract themselves from running the business with this merger? I would be livid if I were a shareowner! The costs of integrating the two operations will be huge. Fixing US Airways' high costs won't happen overnight, either, and that won't be cheap. And the clashes over seniority between labor at the two airlines will be ugly.
You do not just combine US Airways and America West and, voila!, end up with a low-cost carrier. AWA stock hit its 52-week low yesterday because Wall Street thinks this is a bad idea.
FlyingTexan From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 11, posted (8 years 1 week 3 days 3 hours ago) and read 5711 times:
Quoting Padcrasher (Reply 7): They woudn't be in PIT if it were not for US cutbacks but what's the excuse for PHL?
Wonder what the US excuse is for $350+ fares walk-up, one way PIT-PHL? On May 4, they all of a sudden lowered their fares to $64 walk-up, one way, all in. Maybe it was those crazy folks from Texas with a bunch of old Boeing 737s with no assigned seats ???
Flyboyaz From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 14, posted (8 years 1 week 3 days 2 hours ago) and read 5606 times:
No sour grapes.....airfares are too low...it's great for a local market but it's become too common across the country. $64 is a rediculous amount to charge for an airplane ticket...why not just give them away for free? WN has great service, but they have cheapened air travel...in more ways than one.
Ejmmsu From United States of America, joined Oct 2004, 1692 posts, RR: 0 Reply 18, posted (8 years 1 week 3 days 2 hours ago) and read 5535 times:
Quoting Flyboyaz (Reply 17): Sounds like the president's social security plan..."I can live without social security payments...why can't you?" BECAUSE I CAN'T AFFORD IT
What does that have to do with anything. That analogy makes no sense.
And even if it did, does that mean that WN should raise their fares just because their competitors can't compete with them?
That makes even less sense.
"If the facts do not conform to the theory, they will have to be disposed of"
Flyboyaz From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 19, posted (8 years 1 week 3 days 2 hours ago) and read 5514 times:
Well competetion is necessary in every business or you would have a monopoly.
But...just because one airline can charge next to nothing for an airline ticket and make money, doesn't mean another can do the same thing. Airfares are the same or lower than they were 20 years ago....EVERYTHING else has gone up in price including gas, landing fees, aircraft costs, employee wages, etc. It's nuts dude.
Ejmmsu From United States of America, joined Oct 2004, 1692 posts, RR: 0 Reply 20, posted (8 years 1 week 3 days 2 hours ago) and read 5504 times:
Quoting Flyboyaz (Reply 19): But...just because one airline can charge next to nothing for an airline ticket and make money, doesn't mean another can do the same thing.
Thats why unprofitable businesses die off and are replaced by business that can compete. US can probably never evolve enough to compete with WN, even with their lucrative LGA and DCA slots. This is an ominous sign for them.
Quoting Flyboyaz (Reply 19): Airfares are the same or lower than they were 20 years ago....EVERYTHING else has gone up in price including gas, landing fees, aircraft costs, employee wages, etc. It's nuts dude.
I agree with that statement. However, it doesn't change the fact that WN has been profitable despite all that. Their competitors have to figure out how to compete with them, or they are doomed to fail. Southwest shouldn't raise their fares just because other airlines can't compete with them.
"If the facts do not conform to the theory, they will have to be disposed of"
SonOfACaptain From United States of America, joined May 2004, 1747 posts, RR: 5 Reply 21, posted (8 years 1 week 3 days 1 hour ago) and read 5467 times:
Now, if this person is serious, then she is the one on drugs. She knows that US needs this merger. She knows the industry needs a shakedown and she knows this will start it. Like it or not, WN will rather not have them merge, and don't give me that WN loving bull sh*it that WN would rather have them merge so they can take out "both" of them. WN desperately wants US out of here, and if WN actually focuses on HP, they could so easily take them down, just like every other airline. HP, although at this very moment probably doesn't need this merger, realizes that now is the time to do something because they know there will be a shakedown and they don't want to be let in the dust. Look, the head ponchos at HP ain't no morons. If they feel a merger is the best option, why in the hell should we all believe a bunch of armchair, know-it-all hotshots who believe WN is the greatest thing to happen to the industry. Most of us don't know a thing about the airline industry, and we base our beliefs on what would be best for WN, not the industry.
SHUPirate1 From United States of America, joined Sep 2003, 3661 posts, RR: 18 Reply 22, posted (8 years 1 week 3 days 1 hour ago) and read 5458 times:
Quoting Commavia (Reply 9): In addition, there is no way on earth that a combined US-HP merger would result in an airline with comporable operating costs to WN.
Hang on a second...if the two airlines merged, and did absolutely nothing but fire the guy who came up with the idea, that airline alone would achieve cost savings. I don't know where you guys come up with the idea that airlines that merge together will have their costs rise. Sure, the integration costs may (likely will) be substantial, but think about it...you only need one management team, and then at stations where they had served jointly, you only need one station manager, half as many supervisors, etc...just that alone, if they stay at their current size, will REDUCE (not add) to their long-term unit costs. That said, if they then elect to be as stupid as to get rid of some of their assets (particularly if they get rid of 733's, 319's, or 320's, as the combined entity would have 104 733's, 96 319's, and 79 320's), THEN you are talking about a CASM raise long-term.
Burma's constitutional referendum options: A. Yes, B. Go to Insein Prison!
Ejmmsu From United States of America, joined Oct 2004, 1692 posts, RR: 0 Reply 23, posted (8 years 1 week 3 days 1 hour ago) and read 5445 times:
Quoting SonOfACaptain (Reply 21): She knows the industry needs a shakedown and she knows this will start it.
And she certainly understands that the "shakedown" that the industry needs is for profitable carriers to expand and those in bankruptcy to either pull out of it or liquidate. Colleen is simply expressing the same opinion as the majority.
Quoting SonOfACaptain (Reply 21): WN desperately wants US out of here, and if WN actually focuses on HP, they could so easily take them down, just like every other airline.
Well, the top two WN operations are also the top two operations for HP. WN offers very competitive fares at both PHX and LAS. WN has proven that they CANT kill off HP. Kudos to HP, for understanding their competition and adjusting their business model accordingly.
US was spoiled being able to charge outrageous fares on walkup tickets. WN moved into PHL and PIT because they knew both markets were thirsting for some LCC competition. The numbers in PHL support the fact that WN lowers fares and stimulates more flying. And the fact that WN is posting a profit in the meantime cannot be ignored.
I can't stand this type of argument. WN is such an efficient and popular airline, that any airport they decide to fly to is going to have lower fares. This in turn hurts airlines that were charging high fares. So does this make WN predatory? Should they just stop expanding because poor little US airways can't compete with them. Even if US dies, they are not going to raise fares to gouge people. WN's fare structure is the same for EVERY CITY THEY SERVE. The don't play favorites like other airlines do.
Quoting SonOfACaptain (Reply 21): If they feel a merger is the best option, why in the hell should we all believe a bunch of armchair, know-it-all hotshots who believe WN is the greatest thing to happen to the industry.
They can do whatever they want, but it doesn't change the fact that the numbers simply don't add up. Two wrongs don't make a right. Adding two financially tenuous carriers together is not going to magically make a profitable operation.
As far as armchair, know-it-all hot-shots..........
What are you really trying to say here, that everyone else is wrong and you are right?
People respect WN because they bring fair, equitable pricing to every market they serve. People respect WN because they do all this while posting a profit in an environment where no one else is. People don't respect US because they gouge customers when they can. They have a complex fare scheme that punishes some cities and rewards other cities at the expense of the cities they gouge.
Quoting SonOfACaptain (Reply 21): Most of us don't know a thing about the airline industry, and we base our beliefs on what would be best for WN, not the industry.
We want the best for WN because they are a profitable, popular airline that offers great service and low fares to every market they serve.
However, we do want what is best for the industry. If a profitable, popular airline with a track record of fairness replaced an unprofitable, bankruptcy protected airline that has unfair pricing strategies and poor service be bad for the industry. I personally think it would be great for the industry.
If US wants to stick around, all it has to do is become profitable and offer good service and fair pricing. Its not too much to ask, because WN has proven it can be done.
Edited for spelling and grammar.
[Edited 2005-05-13 09:23:37]
"If the facts do not conform to the theory, they will have to be disposed of"
TxAgKuwait From United States of America, joined Aug 1999, 1803 posts, RR: 48 Reply 24, posted (8 years 1 week 3 days 1 hour ago) and read 5427 times:
Congrats, ejm, you've just picked up another respect vote.
It's a shame I couldn't give you two---one for a great post that makes sense, and a second one for having to live in Wichita Falls.
Several years ago, Texas Monthly ran an article about the worst jobs in Texas. Full time resident of Wichita Falls was ranked right there with rendering plant worker and highway button layer.
25 Ejmmsu: Despite all its faults, Wichita Falls has been a great place to grow up. For my money, Its better than Lubbock, Amarillo, San Angelo, Odessa, Midland
26 SonOfACaptain: Any airline expanding is not going to help the industry, it may help that one airline, but it won't help the industry. True, WN does have major compe
27 JGPH1A: Er, yes it does. If they are offering comparable service levels, they can charge comparable fares. If US wants to differentiate itself from LCC compe
28 Ejmmsu: According to the statement that you were replying to, I was talking about profitable airlines expanding and non-profitable airlines liquidateing. Why
29 Ejmmsu: Sorry, I accidentally sent that post before I had completed it, so here is its completion...... I never said anything about WN replacing US. All I sai
30 OPNLguy: SOAC, You know, I've been reading your posts for some time now, and I've cranked in more than a fair amount of "slack" given your stated age, assumed
31 John: Southwest is a great DOMESTIC U.S. airline with a mediocre (at best) frequent flyer program. If you're flying DOMESTIC, fine, but don't be looking for
32 Travelin man: Yeah, look how successful that strategy has been for U.....
33 FlyingTexan: SOAC – OPNL summed it up in a diplomatic way. The misfortune of a carrier can be an unintended consequence of Southwest. They don’t actively seek
34 Slider: I would concur with this. You're taking two carriers with different systems, labor VS non-union contracts and those that are unionized with different
35 John: Quite the contrary, the international routes have been and continue to be the CASH COW for US Airways.
36 N1120A: And? Not as good really Who are you to determine what I should pay for an airline ticket. WN's cost structure allows a certain number of tickets to b
37 Junction: From what I read here, I'm guessing that most people would be perfectly happy if the LCC model made famous by WN controlled the entire U.S. domestic a
38 SonOfACaptain: That would be the ideal way, but in the real world, it wouldn't happen like that. Plus, most airlines stuggle and to say the automatically need to di
39 TxAgKuwait: >>From what I read here, I'm guessing that most people would be perfectly happy if the LCC model made famous by WN controlled the entire U.S. domestic
40 SonOfACaptain: You also have to point out that those flights have been there a long time, since WN is a TX airline. -SOAC
41 Qxq400: I am sooooo sick of hearing how profitable WN is.If they are so profitable then why can they not pay there bills?? I know our baggage delivery compan
42 OPNLguy: Sigh... The point remains that you're too emotionally close to the situation to possibly see it in the larger terms and context of the industry as a
43 N1120A: Ok, how about JAN, GEG, MHT, PVD, ISP, ALB, TUS and all the other smaller, non-Texas communities that WN services?
44 TxAgKuwait: Qxq writes in and says: >>> "I am sooooo sick of hearing how profitable WN is.If they are so profitable then why can they not pay there bills?? I know
45 AirPortugal310: True Story. US is losing money because of other things too. Doesnt help that they mishandle baggage on a daily basis in large doses!
46 Midex461: OPNLguy, congratulations on another respect vote! I wish it could be more than one, b/c you deserve it. It's all too obvious that SOAC blames WN for t
47 OPNLguy: Thanks.. I feel for the guy, I really do. You're the 3rd or 4th person who has taken the same stance, so maybe he'll see that it's not a personal con
48 Goingboeing: Several years ago there was a 60 minutes piece on "Herb and his airline". They interviewed Ed Beauvis (sp), who was then CEO of America West and he wh
49 Douwd20: Can anyone think of one successful merger in the past 15 years? One that didn't ultimately involve job losses and retrenchment?
50 SonOfACaptain: WTF!!!!!! Okay, you have drawn me past the brink. I HAVE NEVER SAID WN CAUSED US PROBLEMS!!!!!!!! In fact, I will be the first to tell you that US ca
51 N1120A: WN and Morris Air That is not what they did at all. OPNLguy specifically said that he was not trying to attack you at all, and he didn't. He explaine
52 ScottB: In the real world, it hasn't happened like that. US Airways has been struggling for over five years, since well before September 11, 2001. At what po
53 FlyingTexan: SOAC – I personally empathize with your family’s situation. My uncle sits in the left seat for a major US carrier on their most prestigious widebo
54 GothamSpotter: US is in a lose-lose position. If they do nothing they'll fail, and if they merge they might prolong the inevitible but still fail....therefore I woul
55 Ntspelich: I'm not speaking for all of us WN employees here, but I'd have to agree that most of us have grown used to hearing "XXYXZ is horrible about WN" or "W
56 Dc10guy: I think Ms Barrett is one sexy thang ... I'd like to see her in a thong.
57 OPNLguy: It was replaced with another campaign, although by which one I couldn't tell you offhand. Sounds like maybe we need to bring it back.. Thanks for you
58 TxAgKuwait: "The Company Plane" was a good slogan, no doubt. I always liked "remember what it was like before Southwest Airlines?" The best ever may have been "We
59 TrevD: Sorry to be a bit late to the discussion, but I thought I'd try and add some business rational: The "cost" to fly a passenger 1 nm should be about $.0
60 UAL-Fan: FlyingTexan - That post made me shed a tear........and I agree whole heartedly.
61 Skedguy: Speaking as someone who happens to sit behind those "closed doors," it's downright pitiful to hear someone speaking out of such complete and total ig
62 SonOfACaptain: Oh I have no doubt that they make decisions that would help WN. I am not saying they are stupid or mean, I am just saying that felt WN would be bette
63 OPNLguy: But then... You're busted! Please step away from the PC keyboard with your hands up... (I know I previously said I was done with you on this subject,
64 Allstarflyer: I work for a direct competitor (DH) of the airline you love, and we're under the gun by financial analysts and targeted for termination by other carr
65 Midex461: Now, there is a mental picture I did NOT need!
66 Ejmmsu: Again, WN is not targeting US more than anyone else. They have been slowly expanding from the beginning, and PIT and PHL were deemed the best fits for
67 Qxq400: Are you kidding me I would never work for WN. If they were the last airline out there. I am bitter,about the 250,000 or so jobs lost because of WN pr
68 Slider: I'd be more surprised if they didn't. Last time I looked, this was a competitive industry in a country of capitalism.
69 FlyingTexan: First the issue at hand, Southwest customers and employees are conducting ‘business’ with the carrier. And they have a favorable impression of doi
70 TxAgKuwait: Qxq writes in, and I quote: ---> "I am bitter,about the 250,000 or so jobs lost because of WN predatory practices. They are a carbon copy of AA. As fa
72 FlyingTexan: It has always intrigued me they can take care of those three equally well. Speaking of stock, I didn’t detail in my opus about LUV stock. I’ve go
73 SonOfACaptain: Thanks for jumping to conclusions, again. I was talking about his collegues when I said that weren't mean. I have no doubt that WN as a company is me
74 ScottB: What you continue to do, though, is fail to understand the motivation behind WN's choice of routes to add and cities to serve. They select underserve
75 Midway2AirTran: We are talking PIT-PHL, that's a rather small stage length. Let me show an example, I fly RDU-JAN about every two weeks. Flying out of RDU on US, I g
76 Cactus739: Would love for you to show us one PHL resident that did like those fares... come on...show us Speaking of that...From Southwest's May 9 Press Release
77 Commavia: And that, somehow, is a bad thing? More and more people being able to travel to more and more cities at lower and lower fares? I still fail to see th
78 Cactus739: I found an interesting quote when I was lookng through WN's website just a minute ago... in their 2004 review http://www.swamedia.com/swamedia/speech
79 Junction: Putting all facts/figures and profit talk aside, I think the U.S. aviation industry would be incredibly dull without a legacy fortress hub thrown int
80 AlexInWa: I feel this is bad for HP. HP has had its up's and down's. It's seems to be on the up and up, this just sounds like a bad idea for a good ariline that
82 SonOfACaptain: They all love, no doubt about it, but WN went to PHL mainly to try and take US out. They, however, used the "we are saving PHL" moto and that worked
83 N670UW: And whose fault is it that US Airways is losing (not loosing) tons of money? It certainly isn't WN's. And it isn't predatory pricing. That would invo
84 TxAgKuwait: >> Once again, predatory pricing. I know that is hard to see, but that is what they are doing. -SOAC
85 Commavia: Oh, SOAC, I have a whole lot to say... A whole heck of a lot better than millions of consumers loosing tons of money. Bad, if it was actually happenin
86 Slider: Nonsense....TxAgKuwait pretty much nailed your argument. Given their costs, it's entirely reasonable to not judge it as predatory, especially when yo
87 OPNLguy: I've given up trying. I did overheard my blender telling my toaster that trying to was a waste of time, and given SOAC's posts, I'd have to agree...
88 GothamSpotter: IMHO, the exploding use of the internet to research fares and schedules has been far more detrimental to the legacies than the existence of LCC's. Bef
89 SonOfACaptain: OK, this has gone to far. You guys are making it sound like I plan on attacking WN and that I hate them with all my might and I am going to spend my w
90 SonOfACaptain: After thinking about it, I guess predatory pricing isn't the phrase that should be used. Predatory actions is probably the better one. Predatory acti
91 FlyingTexan: SOAC – I’ve got a little white angel on my shoulder reverberating the phrase, ‘If you can’t say anything nice, don’t say anything at all.’
92 TxAgKuwait: Flying Texan writes in : >>I’ve got a little white angel on my shoulder reverberating the phrase, ‘If you can’t say anything nice, don’t say a
93 Mariner: I think that is probably correct. I think Mr. Siegel was right when he first raised the alarm: "They're coming to kill us." I think Mr. Siegel got a
94 TxAgKuwait: Mariner: I dunno, I know some of those people.....and for the most part there isn't a mean or vicious bone in their (Southwest's managements) bodies.
95 Ntspelich: In any introductory business class that you'll ever take, they'll tell you that the purpose of a corporation is to create profits for its shareholder
96 OPNLguy: SWA had just announced the intention to start PHL when he said this, and what else would he say to rally his troops? Aside from the fact that it wasn
97 Kohflot: "They've come for our cheesesteaks?" Just doesn't sound as convincing....
98 SonOfACaptain: I agree with this completely, and I think we are in the very few who did. What happened with Siegel is that he wanted more cuts after he said he had
100 Mariner: Now that is splitting hairs - - and the only way I would agree is if I thought Mr. Kelleher was prescient. Blind Freddie knew what the problems were
101 SonOfACaptain: WOW, you are using the SAME EXACT arguments I used earlier, yet you called me stupid when I said it and I got sacked because it was against WN. -SOAC
102 TxAgKuwait: Mariner: You and I aren't that far apart, although I don't know if Kelly is ruthless. I tend to think he's just smart. In fact, looking at all the for
103 SonOfACaptain: Lol, wow Mariner. I spend a week trying to convince this guys this and you come in with one post and they admit it. From now on, I am going to hire y
104 OPNLguy: >>>OPNL_Guy: have you had a chance to read my blog at the other website? I refer you to "Fun Airline Facts to Know & Tell" No, I haven't. Can you emai
105 TxAgKuwait: OPNL The url is e mailed. Won't be at meeting. Mrs TxAg is flying ELP-JAN-ELP Wed return Sat so that she can attend graduation of one of our nieces. I
106 Mariner: You think a visionary can't be ruthless? You think Gandhi wasn't ruthless? JetBlue's Neeleman is ruthless, but with abundant charm. Kelly - smart? Fo
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