Southwest Airlines refines post merger management team

Well our management team is already starting to take it's new form, should be a very interesting next couple years as these two airlines meld into one........Michael  

Southwest Airlines on Thursday further outlined its management structure following the May 2 closing of its acquisition of AirTran Airways. The two LCCs will operate separately for the time being; SWA aims to achieve a single operating certificate by the 2012 first quarter.


As previously announced, SWA Executive VP-Strategy and Planning Bob Jordan is now serving as AirTran president while former AirTran Chairman, President and CEO Bob Fornaro has moved into a consulting role. Jordan will maintain oversight of SWA's technology, finance, internal audit and corporate planning departments, the company said in a statement.


In addition, SWA VP-Maintenance and Engineering Brian Hirshman was promoted to senior VP-technical operationsfrom June 1. Kirk Thornburg, AirTran's VP-maintenance and engineering, will move to SWA as VP-technical services, reporting to Hirshman.

AirTran Executive VP-Operations and Customer Service Klaus Goerschwill oversee AirTran operations on day-to-day basis, reporting directly to Jordan, SWA stated.

(Aaron Karp - ATWOnline News)