SOUTHWEST KEEPS IT SIMPLE

This article presents an interview with the CEO of Southwest Airlines in which he discusses strategies that have allowed the airline to grow at a rate of 10% a year and has put it in a position where it will be adding aircraft between 2005 and 2007. Southwest has been profitable for all but one of its last 33 years and is now the largest domestic airline in terms of passengers and departures in the U.S. But opportunities for new growth are harder to come by, especially given the persisting presence of the Wright Amendment, a 26-year-old law that limits SWA's ability to offer new flights. As part of the airline's response, it made an unprecedented code-sharing agreement with ATA Airlines in a larger transaction that saw Southwest buy six of ATA's gates at Chicago Midway. That links SWA to 11 ATA cities, including locations in Hawaii. The focus at SWA continues to be on non-stop customers, which make up about 80% of passengers with about 14% connecting and 6% through. It still remains committed to short- hauls, though its average trip length has risen some 250 miles since 1994. Despite rising fuel prices, 2005 will be a growth year, though SWA is focusing on filling the empty seats in a soft market.

• Availability:
  • Find a library where document is available. Order URL: http://worldcat.org/issn/00022543
• Supplemental Notes:
  • Page range: pp 26-27, 30, 32
• Corporate Authors:

  Penton Media

  1300 E 9th Street
  Cleveland, OH  United States  44114-1503
• Authors:
  • Flint, P
• Publication Date: 2005-4

Language

• English

Media Info

• Features: Photos; Tables;
• Pagination: 4 p.
• Serial:
  • ATW: Air Transport World
  • Volume: 42
  • Issue Number: 4
  • Publisher: Penton Media
  • ISSN: 0002-2543

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Aircraft; Airlines; Discount fares; Expansion; Operating revenues
• Identifier Terms: Southwest Airlines
• Subject Areas: Aviation; Vehicles and Equipment;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 00989447
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: UC Berkeley Transportation Library
• Files: BTRIS, TRIS
• Created Date: May 3 2005 12:00AM