SWA CEO Defines Irony (gleaned from necroposted thread)

frog_flyer

frog_flyer

FredFlyer
mtsu_av8er said:
Everyone hates SWA, but they've worked the system the right way.

If more carriers would think that way, maybe they'd make a profit too . . .
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at least southwest pays their pilots well.
 
Longlive SWA!

Amazing airline, and glad to see them still doing awesome!

*not going to include myself to the political side of this*

SWA in my book, does everything perfect. 30 something years of profit each year, and not one pilot fired due to money.
 
I love the WN business model, and that they pay the pilots well. Just dont ask me to fly w/ them. Fly for them one day perhaps, but not as a passenger please.
 
I never really thought it was that bad being a passenger on Southwest. They usually have the best on-time, least lost baggae record. Not to mention an enormous amount of flights in many high traffic cities. I can still remember 5 min turn arounds from Dallas to Houston in the mid-eighties.
 
I'm not sure if this has been debated or not...maybe it's a no factor issue. But the reorganized majors and new entrant lcc's are providing customers with a much improved level of service over SWA. I.E., nice airports, gates, television, multimedia packages, frequent flyer programs, etc.

On SWA you can't even get a tv monitor for a movie for a coast to coast flight. Does SWA's lack of "amenities" become a competitive issue for SWA...especially as other carriers get close on cost structure?

One thing I like to see a good company do, is to innovate and become innovative at the top of their game. The legacy's should have done this 15 years ago when they were on top of their game...but failed. I do not see SWA improving their product...just maintaining what they are doing. Is this enough for them to be an industry leader in 15 yrs?
 
Interesting question's 767. However, I still seem to think that the majority of customers are looking for the lowest priced ticket. If they can get the same fare on a plane with free movies or video games they will probably go for it. However, if the cost is even 10 or 20 dollars more I don't think they will. Look at the success of Wal-Mart. As for nicer airports. A lot of business travelers like Southwest specifically because where their airports are located. The prime example is always Dallas Love Field. DFW is about 30 minutes from downtown Dallas is memory serves me correctly, whereas Love field is right downtown. The same can be said of Chicago Midway and various other airports.
In my opinion the LCC's failed in their business strategies, they always offered more elegance/better accomodations than the low fare boys. Wether it be assigned seating or the availability of First Class. Southwest is doing what kept them successful all these years, slow growth and more KISS. Stay domestic, maintain a one airplane fleet serve cheap airports that you can get in and out of quickly. Basically keep the airplanes flying and the seats filled as much as possible. They got lucky with the fuel hedges, but they don't seem to be going crazy with the success.
 
I think what the guy was saying is there is saturation in the martket of inefficient airlines. First, the hub system is an awful idea. Not only do passengers have to travel far out of their way, but the airline gets screwed if they have any type of problem at that airport (weather, congestion, strike...) Also, The hub system leaves counters and gates at "spoke" airports often empty, but rent still has to be payed on them, no matter how much the are used. There are a few other reasons too, byut I think the largest one is that using a hub is just putting all your eggs in one basket.

Also, each of the legacy carriers fly too many types of jets. You could run an international airline off of 737s and 777s alone. Anything over three is absurd. The airlines need to figure out what they are going to do with the old planes before they start getting new ones. If Southwest rules the market, then I'll be happy. It's nice to see that somebody can make a profit without taking it out on their employees.
 
Six minutes separated Bigey's post from the one after it which makes it look like Bigey's assertion is being questioned, that assertion being that SWA has yet to eliminate or furloughed a pilot for cost-cutting reasons.

I believe Bigey is correct. I've read it several times over the past several years, one of the sources being the airline itself, or quotes from it in other articles. Right after 9/11 when many airlines were starting to cut labor was one of the times when I remember seeing it proudly mentioned, and they should be proud of retaining employees they've put through expensive training.


Unless someone posts some evidence that Southwest Airlines has ever furloughed or eliminated a pilot to cut costs, I agree with Bigey in that they have not done so in 31 years of making a profit.
 
Ah, I see what you're saying. I thought Bigey was making that statement as a whole for the entire industry, in which case my original post stands.

Ya'll are right, I don't believe that SWA has cut pilots for "cost cutting," though it's a popular option at other company's.
 
Yep, I agree SWA has never furloughed a pilot.

Wait, others have? Nah, they'd never do that! :)
 
Never EVER say "Never" in the airline business.

Seriously.

Lots of people chose Delta because Delta, through 60 or so years of history had never furloughed a pilot. Thick and thin, they'd do what they had t o do to never furlough a pilot.

Then, in 1991...

There are no absolutes.
 
greaper007 said:
As for nicer airports. A lot of business travelers like Southwest specifically because where their airports are located. The prime example is always Dallas Love Field. DFW is about 30 minutes from downtown Dallas is memory serves me correctly, whereas Love field is right downtown. The same can be said of Chicago Midway and various other airports.
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:yeahthat:

Not only is it minutes from downtown, DAL is also a lot less congested than DFW. That in itself is a big convenience for customers. I can be in a out of DAL in less than a few minutes if I were dropping someone off.
 
Doug Taylor said:
Never EVER say "Never" in the airline business.

Seriously.

Lots of people chose Delta because Delta, through 60 or so years of history had never furloughed a pilot. Thick and thin, they'd do what they had t o do to never furlough a pilot.

Then, in 1991...

There are no absolutes.
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Oh of course, nothing is for sure.

All im saying, for the 30 something years they've been around is they havent furloughed pilots for their life. And, as the market gets worse, they continue hiring and such. THat's all im saying.
 
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