Less than a year ago, Southwest Airlines (NYSE:LUV) essentially completed its merger with rival low-cost carrier AirTran Airways, retiring the AirTran brand for good on December 28.
Final AirTran flight departs Atlanta
AIRTRAN FLEW OFF INTO THE SUNSET LAST DECEMBER. SOURCE: SOUTHWEST IMAGE LIBRARY
Apparently, many of Southwest's flight attendants think that the airline is now on the prowl for another merger partner. Alaska Air (NYSE:ALK), Hawaiian Airlines (NASDAQ:HA), and JetBlue (NASDAQ:JBLU) top the list of speculation (via Chicago Business Journal).
However, it is highly unlikely that Southwest Airlines is thinking about any merger. None of these companies would be a very suitable merger partner, and attempting to merge would create a huge distraction just as Southwest is starting to ramp up its organic growth again.