Does anyone think that Western Airlines could've survived if Delta Air Lines hadn't acquired and merged it into it's mainline operation?
They say that this merger was one of the smoothest airline mergers around.
Is anyone here an ex-employee?
- Ron
WesternDC1010
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- WesternDC1010
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Western Airlines - The Only Way To Fly?
Western Airlines - The Only Way To Fly
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- StevenUhl777
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RE: Western Airlines - The Only Way To Fly?
I doubt it...AA or UA would have gobbled them up, or someone else. I remember seeing their 727's, 737's, and DC10's at SFO when I was a kid. Did they do any int'l flying?
And the winner for best actress is....REESE WITHERSPOON for 'Walk the Line'!!!!!!!!
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- WesternDC1010
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RE: Western Airlines - The Only Way To Fly?
As far as I know, they flew scheduled service to Mexico, Canada and England. Not to mention countries served as charter work.
- Ron
- Ron
Western Airlines - The Only Way To Fly
RE: Western Airlines - The Only Way To Fly?
No.
Despite the fact that the merger was smooth, Western would not likely have lived very far into the 90's (if they even made it to the change of the decade at all).
Western was, from what I've read, a very weak carrier in terms of cash flow and profitablity (AirCal/PSA/Republic+the other upstarts) seriously eroded its market share and profitability in the West.
StevenUHL is correct. Had Delta not bought them, then United, or someone else would have. Or else they would've IMO gone Chap 7 by 1990.
Despite the fact that the merger was smooth, Western would not likely have lived very far into the 90's (if they even made it to the change of the decade at all).
Western was, from what I've read, a very weak carrier in terms of cash flow and profitablity (AirCal/PSA/Republic+the other upstarts) seriously eroded its market share and profitability in the West.
StevenUHL is correct. Had Delta not bought them, then United, or someone else would have. Or else they would've IMO gone Chap 7 by 1990.
RE: Western Airlines - The Only Way To Fly?
I think it's hard to say whether or not they would have made it. They would have to have changed their philosophy, route structure etc (just like everyone else needs to do right now except for WN & B6). I think it would have been probable they would have merged with someone else or died on the vine)
RE: Western Airlines - The Only Way To Fly?
Sorry to disagree with Matt and Steve but Western probably would have survived. You guys kill me with your doom and gloom outcomes for carriers such as Western, National, PSA, etc. Just because they were a medium truck size carrier doesn't mean they wouldn't have survived. Using that logic, then how is a carrier like Jet Blue thriving? And they are no where near the size WA was.
RE: Western Airlines - The Only Way To Fly?
Hey I've stated before on this board that I had faith in PSA. I still firmly believe that had they not gone into panic mode when AA bought out AirCal and whored themselves to USAir, they WOULD have survived, and would still be here today. And Southwest would look nothing like they do today, at least not this side of the Rockies. But Western, under Neil Bergt's leadership-or rather-the lack of it-WAS on the verge of death.
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- justplanesmart
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RE: Western Airlines - The Only Way To Fly?
Excuse me, but the topic title should read "Western Airlines - The Ohhhhhhhhhhnly Way To Fly?"
"So many planes; so little time..."
RE: Western Airlines - The Only Way To Fly?
The Western/Delta relationship was pretty chummy long before their merger. It was as if the merger was the long-term goal all along. Delta fed passengers into SLC and LAX to connect to Western flights not served by Delta. They shared terminals in both locations. To expand however, Western would have eventually had to start competing on routes served by Delta, and vice-versa. Both airlines saw that their opportunities were to expand into each other's territories. Merger was the way to make shareholders happy. I cannot see that Western ever had the idea to try and continue without the merger.
Western operated fairly efficiently at the time of the merger. A few years into deregulation in the 80's, Denver's Stapleton was a hub for Western, Frontier, United and Continental. Western wanted to get out that mess, saw the opportunity to build up its SLC operations and turn it into their hub, and capitalized on marketing it as the "Fastest Hub in the West." This is one the steps that helped them make their operations more efficient and profitable. United and American were big money losers at the time of the merger, and did not have the capital for such an acquisition.
I do not think AirCal and PSA were real threats to Western. Western provided intra-California service for positioning only, not to compete, and PSA's attempts to serve Western cities outside of California was short-lived.
Among my most valued airline collectibles is an unopened bottle of Western Airlines champagne, vintage 1979.
Western operated fairly efficiently at the time of the merger. A few years into deregulation in the 80's, Denver's Stapleton was a hub for Western, Frontier, United and Continental. Western wanted to get out that mess, saw the opportunity to build up its SLC operations and turn it into their hub, and capitalized on marketing it as the "Fastest Hub in the West." This is one the steps that helped them make their operations more efficient and profitable. United and American were big money losers at the time of the merger, and did not have the capital for such an acquisition.
I do not think AirCal and PSA were real threats to Western. Western provided intra-California service for positioning only, not to compete, and PSA's attempts to serve Western cities outside of California was short-lived.
Among my most valued airline collectibles is an unopened bottle of Western Airlines champagne, vintage 1979.
Oh how I long for the day when the skies were truly Friendly!
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- lindy field
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RE: Western Airlines - The Only Way To Fly?
If Western were still flying today, about the only surviving aircraft would be the 737-300s that were delivered towards the end of the airline.
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Photo © Ted Quackenbush
They're still flying with Delta, unlike the 727s that were more recently retired and the DC-10s that were disposed of very quickly.
Photo © Ted Quackenbush
They're still flying with Delta, unlike the 727s that were more recently retired and the DC-10s that were disposed of very quickly.
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