The proposed acquisition of Morris Air by Dallas-based Southwest Airlines will help, not hurt, Utah air travelers, Morris assures, and in any case it will be business as usual for the Salt Lake-based airline for several years.
Morris President David Neeleman said the company has been fielding anxious calls from its faithful flyers who are worried that the low fares they have come to depend on from Morris will be lost when Southwest takes over.Last week, Neeleman announced plans for Southwest, among the most successful and profitable airlines in the country, would acquire the privately held Morris for $129 million.
Not to worry, said Neeleman. In the first place, Morris will continue to operate its current schedule to 22 Western cities under its own name for at least the next few years. In the second place, he reminded that Southwest gained its national prominence by being the same kind of airline as Morris: no frills, short hauls and low fares.
"In this rough and tumble world of the airline industry, Southwest was our model and we did everything to mimic the way they did business," said Neeleman. That's why Morris' customers have no cause for worry.
"You won't know the difference unless you look on the outside of the plane," he said. "The Morris name won't be on the plane but the spirit will continue."
Neeleman said Southwest plans to merge Morris slowly into its system over two to three years. Over time, Morris' planes will be repainted and Morris' employees will be interviewed for jobs with Southwest. Also, cities currently served by Morris will be evaluated with some routes possibly expanded and others eliminated.
The buyout is expected to be completed Dec. 31, but Neeleman said Morris Air will seem unchanged until the last plane arrives in Dallas around 1996.