Republic Airways has taken a 50 percent ownership stake in Mokulele Airlines and replaced the CEO of the Kona-based company with a Republic executive who will lead the company while a search for a new | eTurboNews | Trends | Travel News
Low-fare giant Southwest Airlines Co. suffered a surprise setback last week when it lost a bankruptcy-court auction for Frontier Airlines Holdings Inc.
Low-fare giant Southwest Airlines Co. suffered a surprise setback last week when it lost a bankruptcy-court auction for Frontier Airlines Holdings Inc. to much-smaller rival Republic Airways Holdings Inc.
Gary Kelly, Southwest’s chairman and chief executive, said his airline may take another run at an acquisition. But the Dallas-based carrier isn’t ditching its conservative playbook, and any future bid would carry conditions even if they cost Southwest the deal, as was the case with Frontier.
“Even Tiger Woods doesn’t win every tournament,” Mr. Kelly, who has been Southwest’s CEO since 2004, said of the loss of Frontier in an interview.