Results 1 to 4 of 4

Thread: Merger speculation: Will Southwest buy Sun Country Airlines?

  1. #1
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Apr 2005
    Location
    The weather sucks in Seattle
    Posts
    4,899

    Merger speculation: Will Southwest buy Sun Country Airlines?

    Is Southwest targeting leisure carrier Sun Country Airlines for a merger or takeover? Southwest has made no such indication, but one Wall Street analyst thinks the carrier should.

    Reuters writes Stifel Nicolaus analyst Hunter Keay thinks Southwest should acquire Minnesota-based Sun Country, a move he says would bolster Southwest's presence in Minneapolis/St. Paul and -- more broadly -- boost the value of the its shares. Reuters adds that "buying Sun Country would also give Southwest access to some international routes [currently flown by Sun Country, [Keay] said."

    Keay made his comments in a research note released Monday. In it, he makes it clear that "we have no knowledge" of any merger efforts by Southwest for Sun Country or any other airline. But, he says research by his firm suggests Sun Country is a "tailor made acquisition candidate" for Southwest.

    Among the reasons Keay thinks Sun Country would be a good fit for Southwest: Sun Country's presence in the Twin Cities, a recently added Southwest market; complementary fleets and route networks; and that Southwest could "easily afford" the acquisition.

    http://travel.usatoday.com/flights/p...erger/115108/1
    The problem with socialism is that you eventually,
    run out of other people’s money.
    ” - Margaret Thatcher

  2. #2
    Moderator Matt Molnar's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2005
    Location
    New York
    Posts
    9,302
    Stranger things have happened. I don't know that acquiring Sun Country's international routes would be a motivation though...if Southwest really wants to fly to Mexico they can do it on their own, and they still have a partnership in the works with Volaris despite the FAA ruling.

    Any idea if that weird London route was successful at all?
    Ladies and gentlemen, this is your captain speaking. We have a small problem.
    All four engines have stopped. We are doing our damnedest to get them under control.
    I trust you are not in too much distress. —Captain Eric Moody, British Airways Flight 9

  3. #3
    Senior Member NIKV69's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2005
    Location
    IFP, ISP, JFK, IGM, SAN, VCV, LGA, LAX, SEE, LAS
    Posts
    4,258
    Highely unlikely. I don't what this guy is smoking but SCYs model is not that tailor made for WN. SCY has gotten through bankruptcy and is back making money again with very lucrative routes and casino charters so I doubt they are looking to be bought by WN.
    'My idea of a good picture is one that's in focus and of a famous person doing something unfamous.' Andy Warhol

  4. #4
    Senior Member hiss srq's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Location
    Around here and near there.
    Posts
    5,565
    I could see Southwest eyeing it just to grab more of the MSP market which is a pretty big one in the winter with all of the snowbirds going south but I doubt it. Than again, weirder things happen. Delta flies the Airbus so who knows. LOL
    Southwest Airlines-"Once it pop's it's time to stop" Southwest Airlines-"Our Shamu's are almost real" Southwest Airlines -"We blow our top real easy" Southwest Airlines- "You can't top us..... really"

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •