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Southwest Airlines unveiling new San Antonio to Denver flight

10 January 2008

Southwest Airlines is adding new nonstop flights in a number of the carrier’s key markets, including San Antonio.

In May, Dallas-based Southwest is adding a San Antonio to Denver flight on May 10, its first nonstop flight from San Antonio International Airport to the Mile High City.

Southwest is conducting a “‘refining'” of its current flight schedule. It is eliminating 57 of its existing roundtrip flights from its May flight schedule and will add 40 roundtrip flights to key growth markets.

fuente: Business Journal


Southwest says worried about passenger demand

4 December 2007

Southwest Airlines Co (LUV.N) said on Tuesday it plans to cut its capacity growth in 2008 on concerns that a weakening U.S. economy will stifle travel demand.

The largest U.S. low-cost carrier said in a statement that it plans to increase its fleet by five to 10 aircraft in 2008. The capacity growth will amount to 4 percent to 5 percent year over year, the airline said.

Southwest said it is concerned about the surge in energy prices.

“‘We are concerned about growing evidence of slowing economic growth that would inevitably affect passenger demand, coupled with a surge in energy prices,'” Southwest Chief Executive Gary Kelly said.

source: Washington Post


Southwest starts business-class perks for higher fares

8 November 2007

Low-fare bigshot Southwest Airlines is making some big changes.

In a move to attract the more lucrative class of business travelers, Southwest is putting a higher fare structure in place today, offering perks for passengers willing to pay more.

Southwest said its new “‘business select'” fare will offer the ability to board first, additional credits for frequent fliers and a cocktail on the house.

The airline said it expects to make at least $100 million a year more with the change.

source: Chron.com


Southwest and Continental post higher profits

22 October 2007

Southwest Airlines and Continental Airlines , two of the largest U.S. carriers, posted higher quarterly earnings on Thursday as fuller planes and fare increases helped offset soaring fuel costs.

The earnings from Southwest and Continental are the latest sign that the U.S. airline industry’s recovery from a long slump remains on track despite a slowing U.S. economy.

Earlier this week, American Airlines parent AMR and Delta Air Lines posted better-than-expected earnings, benefiting from tighter cost controls and lower capacity in the United States.

source: Yahoo!


Southwest returns to San Francisco

28 August 2007

Southwest also announced new service between San Francisco and Los Angeles (LAX) starting on November 4.

In the years since Southwest left SFO, it has built up service at nearby Bay Area airports Oakland International and San Jose International. So while the return to SFO means more choice and convenience, it’s not a new market and so we probably won’t be seeing the “‘Southwest effect'” of suddenly cheaper fares across airlines serving a destination.


Southwest may become world’s biggest airline

20 August 2007

Southwest Airlines Co. is on pace to unseat American Airlines this year as the world’s biggest airline, measured by passenger traffic.

The domestic-only discount carrier already eclipsed American’s combined domestic and international traffic during the first five months of 2007, according to a government tally released last week.

Southwest carried 40.3 million passengers on domestic routes between January and May, an increase of 4.2 percent from last year.

source: Courierpost Online


Southwest Airlines raises fares

11 July 2007

The Dallas-based low-cost airline, which is the largest carrier at Louisville International Airport based on passenger traffic, tacked on the $10 increase for select long-haul trips of more than 1,250 miles, said Southwest spokeswoman Paula Berg.

Some short- and medium-haul trips saw one-way increases of $1, $3 and $5, she said.

The fare increases are intended to offset high fuel costs.


Southwest Airlines will trim growth, cut unprofitable flights

29 June 2007

Southwest Airlines sees stronger passenger traffic this summer than predicted earlier this year, Gary Kelly, chief executive of the low-cost airline, said Wednesday.

However, he told analysts during a Webcast presentation from the New York Stock Exchange, the airline will trim capacity growth in the fourth quarter to 6% from its earlier forecast for 8% growth as well as plans to expand routes by 6% in 2008.

Kelly said the airline will trim some unprofitable flights, and add routes that are more profitable. “‘Our greatest opportunity lies with the business customer,'” Kelly said.

The Dallas airline, which last year overtook American Airlines, a unit of AMR Corp. (AMR), as the largest carrier of domestic air passengers, this year is facing rising costs for fuel and labor – the greatest expenses for all airlines – and stiffer competition.

source: CNN


Southwest CEO sees summer pricing under pressure

13 June 2007

Southwest Airlines Co. expects fare prices to be under pressure in the traditionally strong travel months of June and July, the low-cost carrier’s chief executive said on Wednesday.

“‘At this point, we’re experiencing the effects of the slowing economy and the softening demand for air travel,'” Gary Kelly said, speaking at a Merrill Lynch investor conference.

source: Reuters


Southwest Airlines still competitive

11 June 2007

Never afraid to spurn conventional wisdom, Southwest Airlines is doing it again. While other airlines are reducing domestic seats in response to softening demand, the low-cost carrier is doing the opposite, expanding routes and flights in pursuit of a decades-long growth plan.

Already, the number of passengers on each Southwest aircraft has fallen. The jets are about 69 percent full on average this year, compared with 71 percent during the corresponding period in 2006.

Southwest has pursued a policy of adding flights, seats and planes to gain market share, even in tough times. While other carriers were reeling from a major economic downturn and slashing their fleets, Southwest has added 120 planes since 2002, bringing the total to 494. It also increased the number of flights by 15 percent and its available seat miles, an industry measure of capacity, by 35 percent from 2002 through the end of last year.

Southwest is considering getting into a code-sharing agreement with an international carrier or offering its own overseas flights.

source: Home & Away