Originally Posted by chrisreedrules

Does that include the projected 300-400 additional pilots needed if the current AIP passes membership ratification?

Originally Posted by e6bpilot

Just my opinion, but I think they are dead set on hiring that number this year come hell or high water. They have repeatedly indicated to investors and the media that we are short staffed on pilots. Those aircraft deliveries are coming this year and next year whether we want them to or not. We already have aircraft sitting around waiting for pilots to fly them and gates that we are playing whack a mole with that they absolutely do not want to give up.
Cutting back on hiring pilots is a big signal that you are going to give up market share in a high demand travel economy. Despite our past and despite our current woes, I think this company is in a very aggressive growth mentality right now. The things that take a long time to accomplish like pilot hiring, aircraft deliveries, and constructing infrastructure are all full steam ahead.
Southwest Airlines has essentially been stagnant since 2015. They are sending all the right signals that a growth spurt is right around the corner. This year will be very telling as to whether they decide to execute on that or to stay on the defense like they have been since Gary grew the airline post Wright amendment.

The meltdown was what it was. Either the C Suite will decide to fix it or they will just wait on the next one to occur. The announcement that they are going to open up their pocketbook and give everyone all their money back plus 25k rapid rewards points means this will all soon be forgotten by anyone who didn't spend Christmas Day sleeping on an airport floor. Customers are fickle, and airfare is expensive. They'll be back.

Originally Posted by e6bpilot

Just my opinion, but I think they are dead set on hiring that number this year come hell or high water. They have repeatedly indicated to investors and the media that we are short staffed on pilots. Those aircraft deliveries are coming this year and next year whether we want them to or not. We already have aircraft sitting around waiting for pilots to fly them and gates that we are playing whack a mole with that they absolutely do not want to give up.
Cutting back on hiring pilots is a big signal that you are going to give up market share in a high demand travel economy. Despite our past and despite our current woes, I think this company is in a very aggressive growth mentality right now. The things that take a long time to accomplish like pilot hiring, aircraft deliveries, and constructing infrastructure are all full steam ahead.
Southwest Airlines has essentially been stagnant since 2015. They are sending all the right signals that a growth spurt is right around the corner. This year will be very telling as to whether they decide to execute on that or to stay on the defense like they have been since Gary grew the airline post Wright amendment.

The meltdown was what it was. Either the C Suite will decide to fix it or they will just wait on the next one to occur. The announcement that they are going to open up their pocketbook and give everyone all their money back plus 25k rapid rewards points means this will all soon be forgotten by anyone who didn't spend Christmas Day sleeping on an airport floor. Customers are fickle, and airfare is expensive. They'll be back.