A Southwest Airlines Boeing 737. Southwest has announced plans to ground Frontier's fleet of A320's and merge the operation into their own, which supports will rally against Thursday. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)
Employees and other supporters of Denver-based Frontier Airlines are planning a “Save The Animals” rally in downtown Denver to protest a bid by Southwest Airlines to take over the airline and eventually fold the operation into its own. The assets of Frontier, which has been operating under Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection for over a year, are up for sale by bankruptcy court and qualified bids have been placed by both Republic Airways Holdings and Southwest Airlines. Republic Airways has stated it intends to continuing operating Frontier Airlines as its own brand, much in the way the carrier currently operates. Southwest Airlines has announced plans to eventually integrate Frontier into Southwest’s operation, selling the fleet of Airbus aircraft, and hiring Frontier’s employees as necessary to support expansion.
Frontier enjoys strong brand loyalty in Denver. The airline’s quirky commercials featuring the much-beloved animals on the tails of company aircraft, upbeat employees, and customer service culture has spawned a sort of “brand cult” among frequent fliers. While grassroots movements to save airlines threatened with mergers are nothing new (both Midwest Airlines and Delta Air Lines having seen such movements during takeover attempts by Air Tran and US Airways, respectively), the effort by Frontier supporters faces a fast-approaching, hard road to fight the takeover opportunity by Southwest. Southwest and Republic have both been determined to be qualified bidders, and binding proposals are due in bankruptcy court August 10, at which point the court will mediate an auction between the two bidders. Details on Southwest’s offer, whether in cash or other instruments, have not been finalized, but the carrier’s cash position puts it in a very strong bargaining position against Republic.
Frontier’s supporters have been active on the web, spawning the website SaveFrontier.org, a Twitter account, and a Facebook page. The rally is planned to take place at the city and county building at 1437 Bannock Street in downtown Denver on Thursday, August 6 at 12 noon.
Comments
Although Southwest plans to one day integrate the two airlines and some people may unfortunately lose their jobs, at least those that keep theirs will be earning respectful wages. Based on what Republic has done to Midwest, Frontier may remain Frontier (which I seriously doubt will happen), but most likely their large aircraft will eventually be replaced by smaller regional jets as has happened with Midwest and wages will drop significantly.
For example a Captain maxed in the pay scale at these airlines makes the following:
Southwest: $220,000 after 12 years
Frontier: $140,000 after 15 years
Republic: $107,000 after 20 years
Frontier has been in business since 1994 so a 15 year Captain would go from making $140,000 a year at Frontier to $92,000 at Republic.
The wages at Southwest far exceed both Frontier and Republics current wages. These higher wages trickle down to other work groups as well. It's obvious that Frontier employees would be better off at Southwest ha
You mean, obviously the frontier employees would be better off interviewing for their jobs at southwest.
Over half of F9 employees will loose their jobs if SWA wins the bid. Maybe more than that. All SWA wants is gates and routes. So higher pay won't matter.
Maybe 10% of Frontier employees will be asked to work at SWA. When SWA took over ATA barely anyone from ATA was hired. There are alot of other job titles other than pilot in an airline. Currently a job is a great thing to have and with Republic more Frontier personnel stand to keep one.
Pay doesn't matter if you don't have a job. I think I speak for Frontier as a whole when I say that SWA wants Denver, period. They thought when they came to DIA we would die; fortunatley, we didn't and we are smoking SWA in DIA. So, SWA has two choices: 1. Continue losing money in DIA or 2. Buy the competition. SWA hates getting the butt kicked, so if you can't beat them, buy them!!
Southwest would be very good for Frontier employees, period. Why don't you doom and gloomers contact the Morris employees that integrated into Southwest. They are still employed with job security and pay second to none. Wake up and look at the track record of any commuter airline. Low pay and crappy hours. Will every Frontier employee get hired on with SW? Probably not, but I am sure you know one or two that shouldn't have been hired with Frontier in the first place. Think long term.
Brad, you are a funny guy. You are "smoking" SWA, huh?? You are BANKRUPT!!!!!
You are not smoking anybody. You are on your way out leaving a lot of smoke in the process. With your mouth that is.
F9 has made money in backruptcy while swa hasn't made money in Denver since day 1. F9 should fight to discourage swa because it's a bad deal for the employees. Higher wages is't everything. I rather have a job with republic the maybe having one with swa that only cares about bottom line. My thoughts are the only reason swa put in a non-binding bid is to look at how we make money in bancruptcy and they can't with a mountain of money behind them.
Brad you beter get your bags packed! With an attitude like yours Im sure Southwest would never hire you anyways, so head on down the road! Im so glad they are here in Denver! How wonderful it was seeing United and Frontier worry how they have been over charging and the crappy service! Hear hear, too Southwest Airlines! You are a great proven leader in cusotmer service as well as an airline!
I don't think a rally in Denver is necessary and shows poor judgement on some flight attendants there. The City of Denver has nothing to do with Frontier's Future. It is unprofessional of those F/A's and shows lack of business understanding, and quite frankly it is a large embaressment to Professional Flight Attendants everywhere. Southwest will pick and chose who they want on their team and that is the reality of the situation, they have a great airline that works well and the public likes them. It's too bad a Frontier FA union was not formed years ago, it may have made some difference for Frontier flight attendants. Its a good change for Denver since Frontier's poor management let down their own employees through unfair employment practices. They deserve what they get!!!
.... And knowing that Frontier was going to be bought out right, why did you wait one business day before the final decision is to be made to hold a rally to get your supidity across to all of Denver? Your not dealing with a full deck!! At least show some delf respect. Maybe you do better as a big mouth waiter for Dennys. The airline business not for you I would never hire you!!!
Brad get a grip! If Frontier was "kicking SWA's butt" then there would be no need for this rally.
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