Thank you, Gary Kelly.
For showing that Southwest is dedicated to it's customers, employees, culture, and stockholders!
Not to mention showing through all of this, that Southwest is the TRUE low cost carrier in Denver.
Now that the auction is over, and Sean Menke was asked to stay on at Frontier the truth is out.
"Menke conceded on a conference call with reporters Friday that the auction outcome—leaving Southwest as a competitor rather than owner of Frontier—"makes it tough" for airlines to boost fares and achieve profitability in Denver. "I'm not going to beat around the bush on that one. That's why we've been focused on the cost structure." "
So one can only conclude, that the only reason their fares have been low, is because Southwest entered the market, as the TRUE low cost carrier.
As for those of you responding to the post above:
"I don't understand why Frontier employees feel confident that they will keep their jobs with Republic.
"Pilot labor expert and airline consultant Robert W. Mann said Southwest’s executives can’t be blamed for thinking that Frontier pilots would see the prospect of higher pay and potentially greater job security in the Southwest bid as attractive.
“Frontier pilots need to look at the facts,” he said. Republic has said it would operate Frontier separately from its other regional jet operations, but Republic replaced all the pilots and planes at Midwest Airlines when it bought Midwest this year and could do the same to Frontier’s operations down the road, Mann said. ""
After reading in Buisness week today.
I would beg to differ that they have all the facts yet, as I am certain that they are not all worked out, and not all those maintnance jobs will stay in Denver.
But what is certain, as it has been stated by Bryan Bedford on behalf of republic. " Some of Frontier's Airbus 319s will migrate to Milwaukee for new nonstop flights to the West Coast. Republic also is likely to seek cost "synergies" for its expanded fleet, in terms of maintenance and other aircraft operations. "
"There's not a lot of organic growth in the fixed-fee contract flying business," Bedford said. He added: "I hope these transactions don't negatively affect these relationships in the long term." Which one might conclude he is concerned about legacy carriers considering Republic as a competitor now, and further decreasing it's market capital.
Add that to the following from the same article.
To date, Midwest has flown only Boeing 717s, which do not have cross-country range. Vaughn Cordle, an airline analyst and former pilot, said in a note Friday that Republic's small market capitalization—"suggests that Republic will want to move aggressively to displace as many Airbuses as fast as practical to lower its average costs."
I would not be on here posting how all of you at Frontier are keeping your jobs, and your airbuses, as it sounds as if they may be leaving.
You can see for yourself, as I know you are going to dispute it. ( I supose you will claim Southwest has some conspiracy with buisness week or something. )
The article is located here
http://www.businessweek.com/bwdaily/dnflash/content/aug2009/db20090814_542215.htm
I have been amazed at how many Frontier employees, find the need to come post here on the Southwest Blog. (I don't understand why their company cannot post on their own blog. If they do not have one, then make one.)
But at any rate, congradulations on sticking with your employees, customers, and share holders Gary Kelly.
As a huge fan of Southwest!
I am a loyal Southwest customer, and I hope you continue to expand your great brand!!!
Don't let those Frontier people get you distracted, it seems by the newsweek article there maybe allot of them with time on their hands, to just come in here and distort facts and antaganize a fantastic airline.
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