AM I NEXT? NO LOVE AT SOUTHWEST AIRLINES

Dallas, Texas-based Southwest Airlines, a low-cost airline, has announced that it will stop service at Syracuse Hancock International Airport in upstate New York, Bellingham International Airport in Washington state, Cozumel International Airport in Mexico, and George Bush Intercontinental in Houston and reduce service to Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson International and Chicago’s O’Hare International.

As a result of these route changes, the airline plans to lay off 2,000+ employees.

According to Bob Jordan, President and Chief Executive Officer...

"While it is disappointing to incur a first quarter loss, we exited the quarter with healthy profits and margins in the month of March. We are focused on controlling what we can control and have already taken swift action to address our financial underperformance and adjust for revised aircraft delivery expectations.

Achieving our financial goals is an immediate imperative. The recent news from Boeing regarding further aircraft delivery delays presents significant challenges for both 2024 and 2025. We are reacting and replanning quickly to mitigate the operational and financial impacts while maintaining dependable and reliable flight schedules for our Customers.

To improve our financial performance, we have intensified our network optimization efforts to address underperforming markets. Consequently, we have made the difficult decision to close our operations at Bellingham International Airport, Cozumel International Airport, Houston's George Bush Intercontinental Airport, and Syracuse Hancock International Airport. I want to sincerely thank our Employees, the airports, and the communities for all their incredible support over the years.

Additionally, we are evaluating options to enhance our Customer Experience as we study product preferences and expectations, including onboard seating and our cabin. And, we are implementing cost control initiatives, including limiting hiring and offering voluntary time off programs. We now expect to end 2024 with approximately 2,000 fewer Employees as compared with the end of 2023."

Change is coming. There will always be a tomorrow, no matter how much you may try to ignore it. There are no guarantees in life or promises for a bright future. We see good people being laid off through no fault of their own. Just because something bad hasn't happened yet doesn't mean it won't. It can happen to anyone, anytime, anywhere. No one is guaranteed to wake up tomorrow and still have a job by evening. Are you now wondering, Am I Next?

AM I NEXT? NO LOVE AT SKYWEST AIRLINE

St. George, Utah-based SkyWest Airlines, a regional airline that operates and maintains aircraft used on flights that are scheduled, marketed, and sold by mainline airlines, has announced it will be transferring its SkyWest Maintenance and Training Facility at the Salt Lake International Airport to Delta Airlines, one of its marketing partners.

Approximately 226 employees, involved with airport operations and customer service, will be impacted, with separations scheduled on September 5, 2023.

Change is coming. There will always be a tomorrow, no matter how much you may try to ignore it. There are no guarantees in life or promises for a bright future. We see good people being laid off through no fault of their own. Just because something bad hasn't happened yet, doesn't mean it won't. It can happen to anyone, anytime, anywhere. No one is guaranteed to wake up tomorrow and still have a job by evening. Are you now wondering, Am I Next?

AM I NEXT? NO LOVE AT SPIRIT AIRLINES? (04/09/24)

APRIL 9, 2024 —

Spirit Airlines has announced it plans to defer Airbus deliveries and lay off 260 pilots as part of a cost-containment initiative.

The airline will defer the scheduled deliveries to 2030-2031. As a result of the deferrals, along with quality issues with Pratt & Whitney, it is furloughing pilots effective Sept. 1, 2024.

The airline is blaming the Department of Justice for blocking JetBlue from acquiring Spirit.

AUGUST 1, 2022 — CONFIRMED: JET BLUE ACQUIRES SPIRIT

JetBlue Airways Corporation has acquired Spirit Airlines for $3.8 billion to become the fifth-largest carrier in the United States. The deal was announced after Spirit and Frontier ended their merger agreement.

Look for headcount reductions in back-office and support functions as duplicative departments are eliminated in the name of cost-reduction synergies. This also extends to vendors who are not willing to shave their prices further.

JULY 27, 2022 — SPIRIT TERMINATES MERGER WITH FRONTIER. IS JET BLUE NEXT?

Spirit Airlines is continuing merger discussions with JetBlue after walking away from a merger agreement with Frontier Airlines.

According to Frontier Chairman William Franke, "While we are disappointed that Spirit Airlines shareholders failed to recognize the value and consumer potential inherent in our proposed combination, the Frontier Board took a disciplined approach throughout the course of its negotiations with Spirit. We were focused on offering the appropriate value for Spirit while prioritizing consumers and the best interests of Frontier, our employees, and shareholders."

MARCH 2, 2022 — Original post…

Denver, Colorado-based Frontier Airlines, an ultra-low-cost carrier is purchasing Miramar, Florida-based Spirit Airlines to create the nation's fifth largest airline and capitalize on economies of scale. Of course, the deal is subject to regulatory approval.

According to Spirit CEO Ted Christie, "This transaction is centered around creating an aggressive ultra-low fare competitor to serve our guests even better, expand career opportunities for our team members and increase competitive pressure, resulting in more consumer-friendly fares for the flying public."

Even with the happy talk about additional employees being required as the combined airline expands, that does not mitigate the risk to employees who are associated with duplicate departments or positions that will be shed to effect cost-savings synergies in administrative functions.

Change is coming. There will always be a tomorrow, no matter how much you may try to ignore it. There are no guarantees in life or promises for a bright future. Just because something bad hasn't happened yet, doesn't mean it won't. It can happen to anyone, anytime, anywhere. No one is guaranteed to wake up tomorrow and still have a job by evening. Are you now wondering, Am I Next?