Status of Southwest's Assimilation AirTran

[Horace Horsecollar]

I think most readers of this board know that Southwest acquired AirTran in 2010. Southwest has been operating AirTran as a separate airline, with AirTran's policies and pricing (including AirTran's approach to seat assignment and AirTran's checked baggages fees).

Slowly and deliberately, Southwest service is replacing AirTran service at selected airports, as new schedules are released. Southwest has stopped service to a number of AirTran cities that Southwest does not see as good longterm prospects.

It's not a simple matter of taking over routes, as much as taking over service on an airport-by-airport basis. For example, flights at Des Moines now go to Southwest's huge connecting hub at Chicago-Midway instead of to AirTran's smaller connecting hub at Milwaukee. This should give Des Moines passengers better travel options than before.

Eventually, AirTran will be gone entirely.

It is careful assimilation, not chaotic combination. Southwest's shrinking of AirTran and the corresponding growth of Southwest is a model for doing an airline merger right.

USA Today has a great summary of the status of the assimilation:

http://www.usatoday.com/story/today...hwest-airlines-airtran-merger-cities/1649647/

I didn't post the article itself due to copyright.

 

[DebbieB]

They are going to be subleasing AirTran's 717 aircraft to Delta.

A few at a time from 2013 to 2015.

http://www.nycaviation.com/2012/05/delta-air-lines-to-snatch-up-airtrans-entire-boeing-717-fleet/

 

[katallo]

With the merger, can SW points be used for AT flights?

 

[DebbieB]

With the merger, can SW points be used for AT flights?

Yes, there is a conversion process.

http://rewardsfarther.com/program-updates/

 

[Bronte]

can someone use a southwest gift card to buy airtran tickets