Southwest buys AirTran

[CAY505- Tim]

This one hit a little too close to home, but Southwest has agreed to buy AirTran for over a billion US dollars.

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/28/business/28air.html?partner=yahoofinance

[CAY029- Pierre]

Would this be good for fares? I'm guessing it'll be cheaper to get to the west coast from DC now.

[CAY792-William]

Does that affect you at all Tim? Apart from we know they are buying Air Tran atm, does/have Southwest said anything about the fleet and destinations of Air Tran?

[CAY253- Guy]

Interesting development indeed, I guess it's bye-bye to the 717's, get on one while you can! I hope this doesn't affect you badly Tim, not really sure what you mean.hmmm

[CAY1028- Mike]

SWA will keep the 717s!

http://www.lowfaresfarther.com/frequently-asked-questions/

[CAY1058- Luke]

Yeah uh huh! Thats what Im talkin bout. <3 Southwest. <3 717's. <3 737's. <3 Bags Fly Free. <3 Go theres nothing stopping you. <3 Low fares. <3 Grab your bag its on.

[CAY505- Tim]

Does that affect you at all Tim? Apart from we know they are buying Air Tran atm, does/have Southwest said anything about the fleet and destinations of Air Tran?
Nothing has been finalized and we will not know a whole lot more than what is in the press releases for probably at least 6 months. The initial presser had the Southwest saying the plan is to keep all the aircraft (including the 717's) and to continue to take deliveries of the 737's AirTran has on the books (possibly even taking some of the -700s deliveries and turning them into -800s since AirTran has that option with their deliveries). It was also stated that the core business practices that Southwest currently have not changed: single class airplanes, no reserved seats, no fees, and that they expect to continue those practices through integration and into the future. The only city that is currently planned to close would be the AirTran DFW operation as operations would move East to DAL.

As far as my status goes, I won't know for sure for quite a while. The airlines will be independently run until all the hurdles have been cleared. Once approved, the airlines will begin the integration process but will run independently for a good period of time until the certificates are approved to become a single certificate. Once that occurs, I will probably find out what my status is. Could take a year, maybe two, before I know my fate.

Still kind of in shock after getting hit with the news this morning.