AirTran/Southwest merger?

Just heard it on WSB in Atlanta. This will change the air travel game in ATL.

Don't have a link yet.

 

Here is the memo sent to AirTran employees: http://atlanta.bizjournals.com/atlanta/stories/2010/09/27/daily2.html

It doesn't just change Atlanta. It also shores up Southwest in Charlotte, Memphis and other southern airports where it didn't have much of a presence. More than that, it puts Southwest into a lot of smaller airports in which it never would have expanded on its own.

It's possible -- probable -- there will be some service and employee cuts (the operation at Akron-Canton might be in trouble with Southwest in Cleveland), even though Southwest has never had a layoff. Still, it looks like this deal is less about Southwest bumping off a competitor and more about it gearing up harder to go after the Uniteds and Deltas.

 

I'm glad Southwest is coming to Atlanta.

 

I also think AirTran has a bit of a presence in the Caribbean, which might be a nice addition for Southwest. The one and only thing I like about AirTran is satellite radio (though TV would be better) and I suspect that'll be the first thing that's ripped out.

 

Levels 3 and 4 of Hell are merging. CEO Plutus will maintain his current position

 

I only fly Southwest or AirTran when I have no other viable option.

With this merger, I will only have one airline to ignore in my travel planning.

 

This will also mean one less carrier flying out of DFW as Southwest is prohibited from doing so under the Wright Amendment.

 

Can never understand why anyone would dis Southwest. Low fares, always on time, no baggage charges

 

For the most part, you can't get a direct flight on Southwest and that's what kinda sucks.

The flights are cheaper and they don't tag you with all those fees but not being able to reserve a seat is a big turnoff for some.

My only goal when flying is to get the cheapest flight possible and Southwest usually works on that regard but I also understand I'm on the modern equal of Greyhound when I fly Southwest.

If you have higher expectations than that, you'll not be happy with Southwest.

 

Unless you are flying first class on the other major domestic airlines you will be bitterly disappointed if you have higher expectations.

The only airline I have a different view of is Jet Blue because of tv. Other than that it's a crap shoot. My second decision point beyond TV's is quality of Sky Club - which I prefer Delta.

 

If I were Southwest, I'd leave a minimum number of planes flying as AirTran so you could serve both Dallas airports and just to get around this idiotic legislation. Delta flyers will be happy because fares going to Atlanta are going to fall.

 

I'll predict that this won't be true, that instead, Southwest will reduce flights in and out of Atlanta. It won't be a hub for them, it will be a spoke. Why? Because they'll be just fine with Delta keeping prices high.

Oh, they'll compete on enough routes to make it LOOK like they're having an impact, but in the bigger picture, I'd expect fares to increase or only decrease slightly.

The new airline won't have as much of an MCO presence either IMO.