Southwest (WN / SWA)

Companie low cost americana (cea de la care se zice ca a plecat principiul low-cost) fondata in 1971.

Compania cu cei mai multi pasageri transportati anual in 2009. Una dintre cele mai mari flote de avioane din lume (se zice ca ar fi a 3-a in lume) ; un singur tip de avioane B 737.

Sediul general in Dallas.

Sunt sigur ca aveti poze cu livery-ul clasic

Eu pun un link cu noua lor distractie : Florida One (poze si un filmuletz cu making of) :

http://nycaviation.com/2010/04/23/southwest-unveils-florida-one-their-newest-specialty-plane/

Da...de la ei a plecat conceptul "Peanuts Airline ". Mi se pare ca au cea mai mare flota din USA.

Titlu: Southwest Fined $200,000 for Bumping Passengers
Sursa: http://nycaviation.com/2010/04/29/southwest-fined-200000-for-bumping-passengers/
Autor: Mark Lawrence
Data: 29/04/2010

Citat :

The U.S. Department of Transportation on Tuesday fined Southwest Airlines $200,000 for violating rules on bumping passengers from oversold flights. The DOT studied complaints from passengers and found that Southwest had failed to promptly pay bumped passengers and give them written notices of their rights.

In 2009, Southwest bumped 13,113 passengers which is 80% more than the closest carrier, though that in and of itself is not the problem: Southwest also carried the most domestic passengers last year. The issue is carriers are required by the DOT to give bumped passengers a notice detailing their rights and how airlines decide who gets bumped when flights are oversold. Passengers can be offered travel vouchers, but only after they have been informed that they can get cash or a check for the amount they are owed.

The DOT said it will waive $90,000 of the penalty if Southwest does not commit any further violations in the next 12 months. Southwest has said they are improving on internal procedures to ensure that they are in compliance.

Titlu: Southwest Eyes Business Traffic, Int'l Routes
Sursa: http://news.airwise.com/story/view/1280485292.html
Autor: Reuters
Data: 30.07.2010

Citat :

The discount domestic airline has built its fortune on serving primarily leisure travellers flying shorter routes. Over the past few years, Southwest has also turned its attention to business travellers.

The airline now sells a business select service that gives passengers priority boarding among other amenities. The company is looking to offer wireless Internet on its flights by around 2013 and upgrade its frequent flier programme.

"We'll have a bigger push and a stronger message for business travel over the next 12 months," chief executive Gary Kelly said.

Kelly also said that the airline would decide this year whether to fly international routes. If the airline were to pursue routes outside the United States, it would take a multiyear effort, he said.

"We're built as an all-domestic carrier," Kelly said. "If we want to pursue international opportunities, it's a multiyear construction effort for us."

Southwest is the last major US airline to report results for the second quarter. The airline industry has been able to command higher fares this year as travel demand bounced back.

For July, Southwest estimated that unit revenue would jump 17 percent. The airline said July 2010 improvements were set against July 2009, a month when the company's operations began to improve.

Bookings for August and September appear strong, the airline said.

Last year, carriers reduced capacity, as measured by available seat miles, to cut costs. Avoiding excess capacity is seen as key to the recovery for the industry.

Southwest said its capacity in 2010 would be even with 2009 levels. The company forecast no fleet growth in 2011 and a "modest" capacity increase, which Chief Financial Officer Laura Wright said could be around 2 percent.

Southwest has no plans to increase its fleet in 2012.

Southwest cumpara Air Tran si pastreaza Boeingurile 717

Titlu: Southwest answers US legacy consolidation with AirTran buy
Sursa: Flightglobal
Autor: Lori Ranson
Data: 01.10.2010

Citat :

After failing to acquire Frontier Airlines in 2009, Southwest Airlines has successfully wooed AirTran Airways to continue consolidation in the fragmented US airline industry.

Southwest's misfortune with Frontier could have been a blessing in disguise. Through the acquisition of AirTran Southwest gains key access to Washington National Airport and a significant presence at Hartsfield Jackson International in Atlanta. In the span of the 24-month integration period Southwest will grow by a whopping 25%, and estimates the AirTran acquisition could add 20% to its annual revenues of $2 billion a year.

Once the deal receives requisite regulatory approval and AirTran is integrated into Southwest's operations, the combined entity will operate 685 Boeing aircraft with an average age of 10.5 years. More notably, however, Southwest, by buying AirTran, gains "important future delivery positions", says Southwest chief executive Gary Kelly.

Kelly has moved quickly to resolve a key question regarding the combined fleet by expressing a desire to keep AirTran's 86 Boeing 717s. But Southwest plans to operate the aircraft in a single-class 117-seat configuration instead of AirTran's current two-class cabin featuring the same number of seats.

Noting the 717 is in line with Southwest's 122-seat Boeing 737-500s, Kelly says: "We're very comfortable we can make that [the 717] work." The smaller Boeing aircraft allows Southwest to expand into smaller US domestic cities, a strategy Southwest has been interested in executing.

The 737-800 has been under serious consideration by Southwest, and Kelly says that while the carrier is not prepared yet to commit to the -800, "we hope to make a decision on that soon".

Analysts at JP Morgan question whether introducing the complexity of the 717, which is based on the McDonnell Douglas MD-95 platform, will slow down Southwest's process of shifting to the higher density -800. But Kelly appears bullish on the aircraft stressing that "clearly without the -800 we'll simply have fewer places that we could add to our route map".

Kelly is also laying to rest any doubts that Southwest will stray from core elements of its business including open seating and no fees for checked bags. "At this point in time we are not assuming that we will be open to assigning seats, charging for bags, having dual-class service, anything along those lines," he states.

Southwest's move into Atlanta through the AirTran acquisition led to immediate questions over how competitive dynamics with Delta Air Lines would change. But JP Morgan's analysts believe Delta is "not uniquely threatened". By merging the Southwest and AirTran networks, 37 incremental city pairs emerge as unique. Of Delta's roughly $2 billion local demand base in Atlanta, roughly 10% is represented by those unique cities, which accounts for less than 1% of Delta's overall business, JP Morgan concludes.

Moreover, combining Southwest and AirTran should not pose a meaningful threat to any existing legacy carrier franchise. The JP Morgan analysts heartily disagree that this forces "American Airlines to do something". However, they question if low-cost carriers JetBlue, Spirit and Virgin America now "view their standalone prospects somewhat differently".

Titlu: AIRTRAN AIRWAYS BECOMES PART OFTHE SOUTHWEST FAMILY
Sursa: http://www.lowfaresfarther.com/
Autor: ***
Data: May 2, 2011

Citat :

DALLAS, TEXAS - May 2, 2011 – Southwest Airlines [NYSE:LUV] announced today that it has closed on its purchase of all of the outstanding common stock of AirTran Holdings, Inc. [NYSE:AAI], the former parent company of AirTran Airways (AirTran). Read more throughout the site. All sections are updated with the latest information!

AirTran Newsletter:

Citat :

AIRTRAN AIRWAYS BECOMES PART OF
THE SOUTHWEST FAMILY

Southwest Airlines Has Acquired AirTran Spreading Low Fares Farther
Today is an exciting day for AirTran Airways as we become part of the Southwest family. For now, it's business as usual, but the integration of these two great airlines will soon result in an expansion of already low fares and continued outstanding service for our Customers.
Announcement Highlights:
+ For now, nothing will change. It's business as usual.
+ Continue to book travel on airtran.com
+ Your A+ Rewards credits and A+ Elite status are safe.
+ Find up-to-date information on www.lowfaresfarther.com
Business as Usual
Today, AirTran Airways and Southwest Airlines will begin working to integrate the two carriers but for now, nothing will change and it’s business as usual. This means you’ll book travel just as you do now at www.airtran.com or by calling 1-800-AIRTRAN (1-800-247-8726). Also, there will be no immediate changes to either airline’s current policies including seating configuration, boarding process, route map, baggage fees and frequent flier program.
A+ Rewards Program
For our A+ Rewards members, rest assured, existing A+ Rewards credits and A+ Rewards Elite status are safe. Members will continue to earn and redeem A+ credits just as you do today. Over time, and with the appropriate notices, A+ Rewards will be merged into the Southwest Rapid Rewards program. We will proactively communicate with members as we near milestones in the integration process. Should you have questions about the program or need additional information, please visit www.aplusrewards.com or call 1-888-3-APLUS-8 (888-327-5878).
Our Combined Future
AirTran and Southwest are now one family committed to providing the best customer experience to more than 100 million Customers annually from more than 100 airports. As a combined company we intend to strengthen and expand low-fare competition. And once the FAA grants a Single Operating Certificate (expected in the first quarter of 2012) the entire AirTran Airways fleet will gradually be transitioned into the Southwest paint scheme and seating configuration. Reservations and ticketing systems, web sites and frequency flier programs will also be combined over time.
During this transition period, we will keep you informed via e-mail.
You can also find up-to-date information on www.airtran.com/lowfaresfarther.
We hope to see you onboard again soon!
Sincerely,
Tad Hutchenson signature
Tad Hutcheson
Vice President of Marketing and Sales
AirTran Airways, Inc.