USA Today reports that Southwest Airlines sees ATA’s loss as their gain. AdPulp reported earlier in the week that AirTran would assume ATA’s gates at Midway for 87.5 million, subject to approval. Now the city of Chicago, says the gates are not ATA’s to sell, but the city’s.
Southwest, the nation’s fourth biggest carrier is already number one at Midway, with 19 gates and 45% of passenger traffic.
As the city managers decide which airline is fairest, I suspect Herb Kelleher, Southwest’s CEO, has a reserve of fine Cuban cigars ready for just these sort of occasions. Hey, it’s about the love. It’s right there in the logo, or lovemark, some migth call it.
