Southwest Airlines Now at Hartsfield (Atlanta: buying, live, approval)

[smoking357]

Southwest is buying AirTran. (http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Southwest-Airlines-to-buy-apf-591140265.html?x=0&sec=topStories&pos=main&asset=& ccode= - broken link)

I like AirTran, but I won't miss their bag fees.

Anyway, who flies? Who willingly subjects themselves to that police state and nude cancer scans?

Well, if you do fly, this is good news for you.

[tonygeorgia]

Great!

[PeteyNice]

Personally, I see this as a negative. Airline consolidation is not good for people who don't like paying high fares. AirTran was a reasonable check on Delta's domestic fares where the two overlapped. I don't see Southwest being any better at that.

Will Southwest even keep ATL as a hub? They don't really do hubs in the traditional sense.

I would have been much more excited had Southwest been able to buy Frontier (or was it Republic?) last year. That would have brought them to Atlanta while keeping Airtran here too. At best we are just trading one LCC for another. And you know what they say about the Devil you know...

[smoking357]

Here's some correspondence I just received from AirTran:

We have some very exciting news for you. AirTran Airways has entered into a definitive merger agreement to be acquired by Southwest Airlines, subject to regulatory and shareholder approval.

The blending of these two great airlines will bring low fares and exceptional customer service to more markets and more consumers. The two airlines serve 106 different cities in the US, Mexico and the Caribbean.

Until the necessary approvals are secured and the transaction is closed, the two companies will continue to operate as separate and independent airlines. So, it will be business as usual as we continue to provide you with the exceptional customer service you expect.



For you, our valued customer, the ultimate outcome is significant and exciting. Learn more at www.lowfaresfarther.com (http://link.airtran.com/r/UZ9H1S/67Z3K/VLM4C8/XG3BMI/DRC1C/HI/h - broken link).


This is the dawning of a new era, and we are excited about the potential for the future. We appreciate your support and are counting on you staying with us for the ride.

[spotch]

I'm psyched. Southwest has consistently low fares, treats their customers exceptionally (on average), treats their employees exceptionally (on average), and is just an all-around decent business. Airtran was great and all, but Southwest is where it's at.

[toll_booth]

SWEEEEEEEEEEEEEETTT! FINALLY, WE GET SOUTHWEST!

Look out Delta, HERE COMES SOME COMPETITION!

[noah]

This is awesome news, very exciting. Southwest is the largest airline in the U.S. by number of passengers and thats before the merger so they must be doing something right. They have long wanted into the Atlanta market, the biggest market they did not serve..and now they will have international flights too. YAY!!!!!

[tonygeorgia]

AJC said the deal could be an addtional 2 million passengers to/from Atlanta

[afonega1]

At first I thought it wa bad news,but then I realized Atlanta wil; actually gain jobs.Plus I always forget Air Tran is not based in Atlanta but Orlando.

[gumboula]

And if you have ever lived anywhere with SW, you know it is just a superior company to the rest of the jokers at Hartsfield.