Southwest Considers Stand-Alone AirTran If Pilot Vote Fails

Southwest Airlines Co. told pilots it would keep operating newly acquired AirTran Holdings Inc. as a stand-alone carrier if union members don’t agree to combine seniority lists.

Southwest briefed pilots on a “Plan B” for “separate and unintegrated” operations after that union declined to hold a membership election on a seniority proposal, according to an AirTran union summary obtained by Bloomberg News. Pilots at both airlines are now voting until Nov. 7 on a new agreement.