Southwest Airlines to Aquire AirTran for Approximately $1.4 Billion

[Speedbird1]

I also was shocked to hear this sad news. I never flew on TRS but my friends did. I will certainly miss the attractive green tail, which I often saw from my window approaching LGA. The green color always reminded me of the old PIA tail-fin. As I have had to say too often, "Another one bites the dust".

[kc2aqg]

I personally think this is a great combination and buys WN some excellent and strategically viable FL assets; namely fleet, key cities & business markets, and international flying. It will be sad to see the FL brand go, but I think that WN just became a much stronger player nationwide. Not to mention that I have long wanted WN to enter the ATL market, just to have someone, anyone, to challenge DL and their ridiculous fares as of late (they have really been charging an arm and a leg lately to hub captives like me). Can't wait to shoot those purple 717s!

[T-Bird76]

I personally think this is a great combination and buys WN some excellent and strategically viable FL assets; namely fleet, key cities & business markets, and international flying. It will be sad to see the FL brand go, but I think that WN just became a much stronger player nationwide. Not to mention that I have long wanted WN to enter the ATL market, just to have someone, anyone, to challenge DL and their ridiculous fares as of late (they have really been charging an arm and a leg lately to hub captives like me). Can't wait to shoot those purple 717s!

Eh its not just Delta charging high fares as of late, AA has been sky high in and out of MKE the last few months to the point I've bee using Frontier because they are under 200 r/t. I'm chaulking it up to the summer peak season, but it certainly has eaten into my Plat renewal for 2011. Looks like it will be Gold for me next year...oh well.

[LGA777]

Just want to add a few thought on this. Some believe the 717's will eventually go, but despite WN's previous single fleet type strategy I think with an 86 strong and growing fleet they will be around for a while, and would not be at least surprised even to see WN try and acquire the former YX 717 fleet now that Mexicana Click is grounded. I see the 735/733 fleet leaving down the road before the much newer and more efficient 717's do. I think the 738 is even more likely now. and probably in bigger numbers, especially since WN can't grow ATL any more than what FL has now gate wise. As far as LGA I think MDW-BWI-ATL will stay but CAK and PHF will probably go away as WN can use the slots for higher demand markets and WN can shift flights out of those 2 cites to large WN cities like BWI and MDW. MKE could be interesting, they may give some of that market to YX/F9 as MDW is so close. All of this is strickly LGA777 speculation and my 2 cents. And finally to address HISS's comments, while this is not good news for US it is by far doom and gloom as you are suggesting, you try and come off so smart but their is so much you don't know, US will survive this and we are actually doing quite well frankly. Your former co-workers continue to appreciate your spewing, you are older but not wiser sir !