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Southwest Sells, Leases Back 3 Jets
The Wall Street Journal, May 21, 2009

Southwest Airlines Co. said Thursday that it sold three Boeing Co. 737-300 aircraft to a third party, and then immediately leased them back for 16 years.

Dallas-based Southwest sold the jets for about $104 million to the unnamed third party, and will continue to operate and maintain the aircraft, according to a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Under the lease, payments will total about $4.4 million for the first six months, based on the six-month London interbank offered rate, or Libor, as of May 14.
 
Payments under the lease agreements will be reset every six months based on changes in the six-month Libor rate.

Southwest CEO says air traffic fizzling in May
Associated Press, May 21, 2009

The CEO of Southwest Airlines says an April pickup in travel has fizzled in May, forcing the company to speed up plans to raise more revenue.

Chief Executive Gary Kelly said Wednesday that the airline has been hurt by the swine flu outbreak, which made travelers nervous about getting on a plane. And the global economic slowdown has left Southwest uncertain what the rest of the year will bring.

"June is typically our strongest month of the year, so I think June will tell us a lot," Kelly told reporters after the company's annual shareholder meeting.

American Airlines parent AMR Corp. also held its annual meeting a few miles away in Fort Worth. Employees — and in one case, the teenage son of employees — challenged CEO Gerard Arpey over AMR's reluctance to approve pay raises. For its part, Southwest has struck tentative or final agreements with all of its major labor groups, most calling for annual pay raises of about 3 percent.

Times are tough at American, until last year the world's largest airline, and at Southwest, which now carries more U.S. passengers than any carrier. Delta Air Lines Inc., which bought Northwest Airlines last year, is now the world's largest carrier.

Both airlines have been losing money as demand for travel shrinks, and they've been eliminating some flights. On Wednesday, both CEOs gave guarded views of the future.

"Things are not getting worse, but they're certainly not getting a lot better," Arpey said.

Kelly said he didn't see the economy rebounding anytime soon, and added that there is often a longer delay before business travel returns to pre-recession levels.

Kelly said Southwest was moving more quickly to enact revenue-raising measures, which he declined to detail. He wouldn't rule out fees even though Southwest advertises that it doesn't charge "hidden fees," which Kelly explained meant charges for checking one or two pieces of luggage and other levies that customers dislike.

Southwest is testing in-flight Internet access, for which it would charge a fee, and it will tinker with its fares. Kelly suggested that the airline will be more aggressive about lowering some fares in specific markets, although he gave no details.

"We're preparing ... for a sustained recessionary environment where low fares will be needed and will carry the day," he said.

Southwest announced Wednesday that it would begin service later this year to Milwaukee, bringing to four the number of new points on its route map in 2009. The airline began flying to Minneapolis in March and plans to add New York's LaGuardia Airport and Boston later this year.

Lower fuel prices have been a gift for airlines this year, partly offsetting the slump in revenue. But the Southwest and American CEOs both complained that after the big plunge last year, oil prices are climbing again — up about 80 percent since February.

On the flip side, Arpey said there are signs that tight credit markets are beginning to ease, and that American has received offers to refinance planes.

"Last year, no one would answer the phone," he said "Now we are getting some interest coming to us about what we are going to do with those airplanes and that collateral." However, the terms of that refinancing still might be unacceptable, he added.

For a change, American's unions didn't picket outside the annual meeting Wednesday. But inside the hall, the event was dominated by complaints from employees and union leaders about stalled negotiations on new labor contracts. Unions are seeking pay raises to make up for wage cuts in 2003, but the company argues that its labor costs are already too high.

Eighteen-year-old Ian Merriman, the son of two American flight attendants, said his parents were working more yet earning less.

Merriman said he had to quit his school's baseball team and get a job to help his family, and he echoed employees who complain that Arpey and other managers get stock-based bonuses.

"Great leaders lead by example," Merriman said. "Great leaders share in successes and share in their failures."

Arpey congratulated Ian Merriman on becoming an Eagle Scout and getting a job. Then he said the company needed to balance employees' desires with the need to earn a profit.

Arpey said AMR spends about $250 million a year on retiree health, something many other airlines don't provide.
"That's a seminal competitive disadvantage for our company," he said.

American Airlines, Southwest Airlines see clouded outlooks
The Dallas Morning News, May 21, 2009

The airline industry's attempts to get a recovery going this spring may have caught the flu.

On one hand, the top executives of Southwest Airlines Co. and AMR Corp., parent of American Airlines Inc., said they don't see any signs that the traffic demand is deteriorating as 2009 progresses.

However, the scare over swine flu has hurt their traffic and clouded their ability to assess how things are looking for the next few months, they said... (More)

Southwest to cut back on seats
The Seattle Times, May 21, 2009

Southwest Airlines will further reduce capacity to cope with declining demand, while American Airlines said it may need to keep fares depressed to lure passengers onto its planes.

Southwest, the largest low-fare carrier, will cut seats 6 percent this year, deeper than its previous target of 5 percent. Bookings in May are "very soft," CEO Gary Kelly said Wednesday at the airline's annual meeting in Dallas.

American CEO Gerard Arpey said he will use "every lever" to keep planes full and he's prepared to remove more capacity. Concern this quarter about the H1N1 virus prompted some passengers to avoid travel, having a "devastating effect" on Mexico where the outbreak is worst, Arpey said.

"It's a very tough demand environment," Southwest's Kelly told reporters after his meeting. "June is typically our strongest month of the year, so I think June will tell us a lot."

Arpey echoed those remarks after American's annual meeting in its hometown of Fort Worth, Texas, saying that "as the economy recovers, traffic will recover."

Traffic, measured in miles flown by paying passengers, has tumbled for 11 straight months for the six biggest U.S. carriers.
April's 5.1 percent slide was less than the 11 percent declines for both February and March, suggesting demand may be stabilizing.

Southwest, American and other airlines have had to drop prices to lure travelers in the recession. Lower fares and capacity cuts across the industry mean most airlines aren't earning money even though planes are flying fuller.

"It's a low-fare environment," Kelly said. "We're preparing for a sustained recessionary environment where low fares will be needed and will carry the day."

Southwest flying high at BNIA
Bizjournals.com, May 21, 2009

Southwest Airlines continues to cement its position as the dominant airline at Buffalo Niagara International Airport.

Last month Southwest handled 29 percent of all the passengers at the airport, up from 25 percent in April 2008, according to Niagara Frontier Transportation Authority statistics.

“Southwest has become the biggest airline at the airport since the days when US Airways dominated,” said William Vanecek, NFTA director of aviation.

In April, Southwest saw an 11.42 percent increase in passengers at BNIA, rising to 64,922 outbound fliers versus 58,266 for the same month in 2008.

US Airways was the second-busiest airline, handling 17 percent of the outbound passenger traffic at the airport in April, compared with 19 percent one year ago. In hard numbers, US Airways handled 38,908 outbound passengers compared with 44,413 last April, a drop of 12.4 percent.

JetBlue was the third busiest with 16 percent of the outbound passenger count, compared to 17 percent a year ago. JetBlue handled 35,087 passengers in April compared with 40,315 passengers the previous year, a 13.03 percent drop.

Through April, BNIA passenger traffic totaled approximately 2.1 million inbound and outbound passengers compared with 2.2 million mark for the same quarter in 2008, a drop of slightly more than 5 percent. Nationally, airports saw an 11.52 percent drop in passengers.

“Even though we are behind, we are still ahead of the national average,” Vanecek said. “So, it becomes sort of a good news/bad news situation.”

The Buffalo airport is aided by a significant number of Canadian and Rochester area travelers who use the facility.
Canadians, who cross the border because of cheaper airfares, more destinations and less congestion than Toronto’s Pearson International Airport, account for 33 percent of BNIA’s passenger count.

Genesee and Monroe county residents account for another 14 percent of the passenger traffic, the NFTA said.

Low-Fare Battle Brews in Milwaukee
TheStreet.com, May 21, 2009

Two of the nation's three largest low-fare carriers are set to square off at Milwaukee's General Mitchell International Airport.

Southwest(LUV Quote) announced Wednesday it will begin service late this year to Milwaukee, where AirTran(AAI Quote) has been growing rapidly and is now the airport's second largest carrier with a 20% market share.

Southwest said it will begin Milwaukee service late this year with multiple, unspecified destinations. The move will enable the carrier, which already operates at Chicago Midway, to "better serve the Northern Chicago Area," CEO Gary Kelly said in a prepared statement...(More)

Southwest Airlines to start service in Milwaukee on Nov. 1
The Dallas Morning News Aviation blog, May 21, 2009

Yeah, yeah, I know -- we reported Wednesday that Southwest Airlines would begin flying to Milwaukee.

But Southwest carefully guarded the start date -- until chairman, CEO and president Gary Kelly got talking on the telephone to the Milwaukee paper. He told the Journal-Sentinel that the first day of service will be Nov. 1.

So now we know, and so do you.

He also revealed that the carrier would start eight to 10 departures a day and would employ 35 to 45 people at the Milwaukee station.

That sounds like two destinations at the outset to me. Does anyone want to guess what cities will be served initially from Milwaukee?

Southwest factoids about new cities
The Dallas Morning News Aviation Blog, May 20, 2009

With Milwaukee, Southwest Airlines will be adding its fourth new city in 2009. How unusual is it for Southwest to have four cities in a year?

Here are some factoids:

• Southwest is opening four cities in 2009 after opening none in 2008 and only one in 2007.

• The last time Southwest opened four cities in one year was in 1996 when it opened three Florida cities and Providence.

• It added seven cities in 1994, but most were the result of its acquisition of Morris Air.

• It added five Texas cities in 1977, four cities in 1980 and six in 1982 as it expanded from four cities to 20 cities within a six-year period. (One of the 1982 six was San Francisco, where Southwest began service in 1982, left in 2001 and returned in 2006.)

• This will mark the first year that Southwest has added cities while actually shrinking capacity, with available seat miles to be down an estimated 6 percent from 2008.

• Although Southwest says only that Milwaukee will be added in "late 2009," October is a pretty safe bet if you go by precedent. Southwest has started service to nine cities in October, two in November and only one in December.

Competitor News

American Airlines Pilot Fails Breathalyzer
CBS News, May 21, 2009

American Airlines confirms that one of their pilots was arrested after failing a breathalyzer test at Heathrow Wednesday, CBS News has learned. He had been scheduled to fly a flight from Heathrow to Chicago's O'Hare Airport.

The airline issued the following statement:

"An American Airlines pilot was arrested at London Heathrow airport yesterday (Wednesday, 20 May) having failed a breathalyser test. Police had been called by airport staff working at the security control post.

The male pilot was due to operate flight AA87; the 10.15 London - Chicago scheduled service. The pilot was replaced and following a delay, the flight departed at 11.30am. No other operations were affected by the incident.

"American Airlines’ primary concern is for the safety and comfort of our passengers and crews. The company has strict policies on alcohol and substance abuse and holds its employees to the highest standards. Employees at all levels of the company are not allowed to be on duty whilst under the influence of drugs or alcohol and regular screening is carried out. Support is available for those employees who seek help for problems with substance abuse.

"American will not be releasing any personal details of the pilot involved."

Airlines to pool revenue, flights
Arkansas Democrat Gazette, May 21, 2009

Delta Air Lines Inc. and Air France-KLM Group, the biggest U.S. and European airlines, will pool $12 billion in revenue and share 200 trans-Atlantic flights as they deepen cooperation to weather the recession.

The two carriers signed an agreement Wednesday in Paris to expand a joint venture and said the combined operation would command 25 percent of the market for flights between Europe and the Americas. The move challenges the rival One-World and Star alliances linking British Airways Plc with American Airlines and Deutsche Lufthansa AG with United Airlines.
 
"There's an even greater interest in doing this in a time of crisis," Air France Chief Executive Officer Pierre-Henri Gourgeon said before signing the agreement with Delta CEO Richard Anderson. "Pooling our services can help us to reduce the number of flights without hurting our market position"...(More)

Entire Virgin America Fleet Gets In-Flight Wi-Fi
Eweek, May 21, 2009

Virgin America celebrates offering WiFi on every flight by calling Oprah on Skype from 37,000 feet. Everybody gets Wi-Fi! Everybody gets Wi-Fi!

Virgin America’s entire fleet of airplanes now offer Wi-Fi Internet access, and with typical Virgin bravado, the company celebrated the event with an air-to-ground Skype video call with Oprah Winfrey during her show. Virgin America is the first airline in the country to offer its customers Wi-Fi on every flight.

Service is provided by Broomfield, Co.-based Aircell’s Gogo In-flight Internet service. Aircell is the only company in the United States authorized by the FCC and FAA to use cellular frequencies for in-flight communications. Gogo is powered by the Aircell air-to-ground system, which uses three small antennas installed outside the aircraft and connects to Aircell’s exclusive nationwide mobile broadband network.

The service is available for $12.95 for daytime flights of over three hours, $9.95 for daytime flights of less than three hours, $5.95 on red-eye flights and $7.95 for handheld devices. The pricing is identical to that offered by competing airlines such as American Airlines, which also offers a tiered plan based on length of flight.


Porter Gale, Virgin America’s vice president of marketing, said the airline is reinventing the typical domestic air travel experience. “With power outlets at every Virgin America seat, Gogo has now turned our planes into Wi-Fi hotspots and home offices in the air,” Gale said. “Hosting a chat from a plane at 37,000 feet to Oprah Winfrey in her studio is a fun example of how Virgin America is embracing technology and meeting the needs of consumers who want to stay connected.”

Although Virgin America said it does not typically allow Voice-Over-IP (VOIP) products such as Skype video call in-flight due to concerns about maintaining a “quiet, restful cabin environment,” Virgin travelers can currently use Gogo to Skype via the instant message feature.

Other major airlines are also pushing to expand their own in-flight Wi-Fi services. Earlier this month, Delta Airlines announced that it has installed Wi-Fi on nearly half of its domestic mainline fleet. Of the more than 300 airplanes Delta operates on U.S. routes, 139 are equipped with Gogo Inflight Internet. Last week, AirTran Airways announced it would install Inflight on all of its airplanes by late July 2009.

The race to provide fleet-wide Wi-Fi, while offering clear commercial appeal, is also good news for traveling business professionals; two surveys conducted earlier this year suggest small businesses are increasingly mobile entities and are looking for products and services that give them Wi-Fi connectivity wherever business opportunities take them.

Springfield airport seeks third service
The State Journal-Register, May 21, 2009

Even as the first chartered flight of Direct Air left Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport for Myrtle Beach, S.C., on Thursday evening, local airport officials were continuing the hunt for a third daily scheduled service.

The airport was awarded a $750,000 grant in September through a federal Small Community Air Service Development program intended to encourage commuter service at regional airports such as Springfield’s.Airport executive director Mark Hanna said in an e-mail Thursday the airport has three years to use the money, but it is a tough market for air service.

“There are still very limited options available at this time given the current national economic uncertainty,” Hanna said. He added that the major airlines are restructuring their traditional business models in an effort to cut costs.

Initially, the air-service grant was targeted to Northwest Airlink connections between Springfield and Memphis, Tenn. But the effort was shifted to Delta Airlines after Delta and Northwest Airlines merged.

Hanna said Delta remains the focus of local recruiting efforts, “but we are examining opportunities with others as well.” Another key focus has become finding an alternative to Chicago-only connections through O’Hare International Airport.

Through the end of April, Springfield boardings of 31,170 for the year were down 17 percent compared to 2008. But Hanna noted passenger numbers generally are down in the slow economy. Gen. Wayne A. Downing Peoria International Airport also just reported a 17 percent drop in boardings this year compared to last.

Numbers were not available for the Central Illinois Regional Airport in Bloomington for the first four months of 2009, but the airport reported nearly 533,000 people took flights in 2008, which was up slightly from 2007.

The Q5 economic development campaign of the Greater Springfield Chamber of Commerce kicked in money to help support a 14-month run of a daily flight between Springfield and Washington, D.C., on United Express.

Flights ended in the summer of 2008 because of low passenger numbers.

Executive vice president Erich Bloxdorf said the chamber would consider subsidies “on a case-by-case basis, and if it makes sense, we’re interested.”

He added that commercial air service is key to economic development efforts.

“It’s certainly up there as something companies look for. Particularly if you look at large organizations, they want to see the way in and out of Springfield,” Bloxdorf said.

Even though Direct Air is intended to get tourists from central Illinois to Myrtle Beach, Springfield Convention and Visitors Bureau executive director Tim Farley said he believes it is a connection that eventually could work both ways.

“I don’t think we’re going to see as many people coming from Myrtle Beach to Springfield as we’ll see going from Springfield to there,” Farley said. “But we are working with the airport to do some promotions in Myrtle Beach. If they’re looking for a ‘historic’ vacation, we’ll do some packages.”

Room To Stretch: 8 Airlines Compared
ThePittsburghChannel.com, May 21, 2009

Fares, fees and destinations aren't the only things that vary by airline.

The width of your seat, the amount of legroom and the entertainment options available can make the time, well, fly by -- or make a long flight feel a lot longer.

Legroom is important to many fliers. Seat pitch -- the space between a point on one seat and the same point on the seat in front of it -- can mean more legroom, but that is also affected by the thickness of the seat back. Most coach seats on major airlines are 17 to 18 inches wide. Seat pitch ranges from 30 to 34 inches in most cases, depending on airline and aircraft.
Industry expert Terry Trippler says a lot of passengers tell him you can't beat Northwest Airlines' Airbus A330 coach section seating. "No one is more than one seat from an aisle," he said...(More)

Airport Authority Unveils Smaller Budget for 2010
Memphis Daily News, May 21, 2009

The nationwide slowdown in air travel will affect the Memphis-Shelby County Airport Authority’s 2010 fiscal-year budget, which the airport’s Board of Commissioners approved Thursday.

With operating revenues projected to decline further, Memphis International Airport adopted a $126.9 million budget for next year, marking a $2.8 million – or 2.1 percent – dropoff from the $129.6 million budget it operated under during fiscal year 2009.

The biggest hits will be found in ground transportation, where the budget decreases nearly $2 million. That category includes parking revenues and fees from rental car companies.

The other noteworthy budget area is airfield operation, where revenues such as landing fees and other charges to airlines are expected to decrease $1.7 million.

MSCAA also expects to see a decrease of close to $1 million in investment earnings income.

Despite the dropoffs, the airport’s terminal rates increased only 57 cents, from $32.97 per square foot to $33.54 per square foot.

Also, signatory landing fees decreased slightly, about one cent per 1,000-pound unit, from $1.42 to $1.41. Those are fees for carriers with leases at airport. They pay for every thousand pounds they land.

“The goal was to maintain rates and charges as flat as possible,” said Scott Brockman, MSCAA vice president of finance. “We have positioned ourselves to get through this economic challenge.”

The budget reveals a difficult economic climate but also a tight ship. The airport will not issue any pay raises next year, but it also won’t have to lay anyone off. Since the airport authority’s inception in 1969, it has never had to resort to layoffs, noted board chairman Arnold Perl.

MSCAA employs 332 permanent and seasonal temporary workers, with an annual 2010 personnel budget of $23.1 million, up slightly from $22.9 million in 2009. Also, the airport authority will defer $3.8 million in capital outlay to cope with the downturn.

Perl pointed out that Memphis has a distinct advantage over other airports because it serves a dual hub – Delta on the passenger side and FedEx on the cargo side.

“That serves us well in this economic environment,” Perl said.

Memphis International Airport pumps $28.6 billion into the region’s economy and provides, directly or indirectly, 34.3 percent – or one in three – local jobs, according to a recent economic impact study.

In other news from Thursday’s board meeting, the monthly, fiscal-year and calendar-year activity reports were released, showing decreases in every key passenger and cargo category.

The airport notched 274 scheduled daily flights, down nine flights from 283 in April 2008. It also saw 816,239 passengers in April, a 6.5 percent decrease from 872,794 passengers in April 2008.

Delta and Northwest airlines – still in the process of obtaining a single flight certificate during a lengthy merger process – and their partners accounted for 87 percent of all passenger traffic at the airport last month.

Fiscal year to date (July 2008 through April), the total passenger count is 8.2 million, down 8 percent from almost 9 million in fiscal year 2009.

On the cargo side for the fiscal year, Memphis International handled 6.7 billion pounds, down 5.4 percent from 7 billion in fiscal year 2009. FedEx has accounted for all but 1.5 million pounds this year.

Twares: United Airlines Offers Special Fares to Twitter Users
Mashable, May 21, 2009

Like many other types of brands, airlines have embraced Twitter ( ) as a medium for communicating with customers. One of them – JetBlue – is actually one of Twitter’s most popular users.

Now, United Airlines is getting in on the action, offering what they call “Twares,” which, you guessed it, are special fares being made exclusively available to followers of the company’s Twitter account. Earlier today, they made the first such offer available – a $63 each-way fare between Washington DC and Chicago.

That deal has since ended, but the company is clearly making a Twitter push, also offering up a “Mileage Plus Special Offer” (a customer rewards program) that users can register for and receive a special surprise gift when United’s Twitter account hits 10,000 followers.

Free stuff has been a proven way to gain Twitter followers for brands – for example, Maggiano’s tacked on more than 2,000 new followers when they offered a $100 gift card to a random user who tweeted about them in a given time frame. United’s approach – offering up a limited number of free fares exclusive to Twitter users – is also smart, because if you want to have any chance of getting the deal, you need to follow them and watch closely so you can respond fast.

Airlines succeed with shift to "cashless cabins"
Denver Post, 05/21/2009

Over the past three years, U.S. airliners have evolved into "cashless cabins," where passengers' cash is no good but their credit and debit cards are.

"Customer reaction has been largely positive," said Tim Smith, spokesman for American Airlines, which was the first carrier to accept plastic.

Response has been so positive that American — which has accepted both cards and cash since May 2006 — will go totally cashless June 1.

Scott Handler, in Denver from Los Angeles on a sales trip, said a credit card makes it easier to file expense reports, since he gets receipts.

And, Handler said, "I don't have to look for an ATM so I have enough cash for the trip."

Flight attendants, however, have had mixed reactions to ringing up sales with a hand-held device that is twice the size of an iPhone and features a touch screen, card reader and printer.

"As a whole, there are many advantages to a cashless cabin, but there are some bugs and glitches that need to be worked out," said Corey Caldwell, spokeswoman for the Association of Flight Attendants.

Caldwell said flight attendants appreciate not having to hit up passengers for change and like not being accountable for an apronful of cash. But, she asked, what happens and who is responsible when the device doesn't work or malfunctions?
Fellow union spokeswoman Sara Nelson, who represents United Airlines flight attendants, said members are concerned about safety, staffing and slow service.

Nelson said flight attendants have to negotiate a 300-pound cart along a narrow aisle and there isn't a place on it for the device, which could become a projectile in turbulence. Staffing cuts have increased the number of passengers for whom each flight attendant is responsible, and that slows service, Nelson said.

United Airlines, which went plastic-only in late April after introducing "EasyPurchase" in March, said issues were ironed out in testing.

"We found that generally when flight attendants were comfortable with the machines, the transactions were faster" than cash, said United spokesman Rahsaan Johnson.

Passengers also spend more when they pay with cards, representatives said.

JetBlue spokesman Bryan Baldwin said average daily onboard revenues nearly doubled the first week after the airline went to plastic in late 2007.

Anthony Aikins of Denver said he likes to pay cash and wonders whether whipping out a card for a $3 charge is worth it.
 
"Don't the airlines have to pay the credit-card company a fee on each charge?" Aikins asked. "That means the price of drinks will go up."

Officials of various airlines acknowledge credit fees but say that hasn't changed the price of meals, snacks, alcoholic beverages, headphones, movies, pillows or blankets.

United pilots voice antitrust concerns
Aircargo - Asia Pacific, May 21, 2009

US pilots at United Airlines have called on the US government to delay the granting of antitrust immunity that would allow Continental Airlines and United to co-operate on routes and pricing through Star Alliance marketing group, saying it could result in the loss of US jobs.

Antitrust immunity allows Alliance members to operate joint services and share pricing and scheduling information, ticketing and facilities.

United pilots represented by the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) union said immunity not only could lead to the outsourcing of tens of thousands of US jobs, it also could take experienced pilots off international routes.

Twitter Posts

qbanorly: Thank you Southwest Airlines for getting me home five minutes early.

margotlynn: I take back every good thing I ever said about Southwest airlines.

ziempie: Stuck in Phoenix .... flight just keeps on being delayed lonage and longer ..... Southwest Airlines get me home!!!!

graemeharre: Southwest Airlines tops customer satisfaction scale for US airlines. http://tinyurl.com/q7n4dv

kevin_hurd: Ahh, Southwest Airlines! What happened to the cheap flights I've always found on Tuesdays and Wednesdays?

robinysmith: Dear Southwest Airlines, please assign seats so your boarding procedure is not all ass backwards. (via @jish). But I like the scrum!