Originally Posted by
Asturias56
MOL went to the USA in 1991 before ValueJet was formed in 1993 - he definitely based the model on SW -
Unfortunately, he wasn't half as nice the guy that Herb was - but one thing he did take up - SAFETY SAFETY SAFETY - which was a basic principle at SW and not perhaps at VJ
Correct he did.
Business magazine did a piece on MOL circa 1994 when Ryanair was still an upstart airline. MOL met with Herb and Colleen Barrett and he describes their meeting and subsequent dinner. Apparently lots of alcohol was involved and lasted most of the night with people dropping off to sleep occasionally. All 3 apparently trace their heritage back to one small town in County Cork in Ireland was the claim.
The MYTH that MOL and Ryanair did not follow the Southwest way is laughable. Everybody did but the idea there was a single standard Southwest way is also laughable and this was described by Herb many decades ago. They looked at each market and tailored their offering to it to grow the market and gain share. Adapting the way they operate each and every time was the way they were successful. When they got to a particular size then it becomes easier.
US marketplace is very different to Europe as carriers go Chapter 11 in the US and start again while wiping out pay and benefits. This doesn't happen in Europe therefore a different model needed to operate to be successful and starting up a fully unionised with mega benefits airline in Europe was never going to be a success.
Herb was definitely a pioneer.