DISCLAIMER: Although I am a Southwest employee, I am just a lowly dispatcher and was not involved with this transaction in any way. The opinions expressed on AndyBox.com are solely my own and do not reflect the position of Southwest Airlines, its Board of Directors, its Leadership, or anyone else who has any authority whatsoever over anything.

Today, at 10am, Southwest will officially close our acquisition of AirTran. This is a huge day for our two companies, and I am thrilled to welcome the AirTran Crew Members to our family. Other than the systemwide celebrations and large amounts of money moving around, not much else changes in our day-to-day operations. Until today, we’ve had to continue operating as competitors. From now on, we can work together as partners, sharing sensitive information, coordinating flight schedules and fares, and hammering out a plan to merge the two airlines into one. My work on the new dispatch procedures manual will be a small piece of that puzzle.

Over the next couple of years, we’ll be repainting and reconfiguring the AirTran aircraft to Southwest style, standardizing our procedures, combining the seniority lists, getting to know our new coworkers, and providing a bigger and better Southwest for our customers. I am very excited about the future and very grateful to work here.