We are SOUTHWEST!

November 7, 2011


Fellow Pilots,

It is decided. The Seniority Integration Agreement has been approved. With an 83.58 percent vote of the ATN pilots and an 83.56 percent vote of the SWAPA pilots – both in favor of ratification – our collective hands have extended and accepted Southwest’s offer as to how the pilot groups will be merged. As such, the next few weeks will be busy as we start the process of combining flight operations. The momentum of this integration will accelerate in the coming months and before long our last pilot will have made the transition to Southwest Airlines. Once a phoenix rising, AirTran Airways will have flown its final flight.

Before we look to the future, however, we must take time to recognize the contributions that the ATN pilots have made to AirTran Airways. We helped build an airline from scratch, and then rebuilt it again and again. The AirTran of 2011 is distinctly different from its precursors in 1993 and even from itself in 2001.Through it all, we remained steadfast in our dedication to the success of the company and the professional execution of our duties. These traits, our core ideals, set the foundation for a high quality experience from a low-fare carrier. By exceeding the expectations of both our passengers and our most ardent opponents, AirTran, perpetually the underdog, succeeded in the face of intense competition.

Similarly, through most of its 40-year history, Southwest and its employees were also underdogs. They were fortunate, however, to have the visionary leadership of Herb Kelleher and Colleen Barrett, who encapsulated the “Southwest Way:” a Warrior Spirit, a Servant’s Heart and a Fun-LUVing attitude. They created a whole corporate department to foster and preserve this culture, while we had to adopt these principles organically. We did it in a vacuum, amongst ourselves, because we knew that our future as airline pilots was dependant on the success of a business over which we had little control. This is our identity – professionals in the face of adversity.

Even now, we have sacrificed to ensure the success of the company. But, by ratifying this agreement, we, along with SWAPA pilots, have taken ownership of our pilot integration and the future of Southwest Airlines. From Portland, Maine to Portland, Oregon, Southwest Airlines will extend a reach only imagined when it began flying its first Dallas to Houston and San Antonio legs in 1971. CEO Gary Kelly has also spoken of his desire to push even further:  to Mexico, Canada, Alaska and Hawaii. The synergies unleashed by the merger of our two airlines will power this expansion with nearly eight thousand pilots at the helm. Together, with every other employee, we will benefit from our improved competitive position and the opportunities created by this growth.
So let’s look ahead; not through rose colored glasses, but with plain sight. Our future lies with Southwest Airlines.  In order to facilitate a smooth transition, we must focus on building upon those common traits which unite us with our peers, and we must recognize that it is in our collective interest to work together to help our new company navigate through uncharted territory.

With that in mind, I commend you on your unyielding professionalism. Together, we will write the next chapter of our careers.

In unity,

Linden Hillman, Chairman
ATN Master Executive Council