1st Q Numbers look great!

[robbedagain]

thanks swamt     will the newest 737 (800 or 900) be utilized for the new routes?

 

[WNMECH]

thanks swamt     will the newest 737 (800 or 900) be utilized for the new routes?

You probably won't see 900's in our fleet until we buy Alaska Airlines.
Maybe sooner, but probably only after.

 

[robbedagain]

thanks   Do u know what SWA will use from BWI    My guess would be the 700 or 800?? 

 

[blue collar]

thanks   Do u know what SWA will use from BWI    My guess would be the 700 or 800?? 

They'll use the same thing they're using now, everything. If you're referring to intl flights, depends where it's flying to and what type of equipment (ETOPS/EOW) would be needed.

 

[swamt]

 
Moving right along . Very good news! 

Also hearing more announcements coming by end this year or maybe into 1st Q next year of more additions to new locations...

 

[WorldTraveler]

You probably won't see 900's in our fleet until we buy Alaska Airlines.
Maybe sooner, but probably only after.

so y'all are buying Alaska now?

DL would be highly supportive since SEA would no longer make sense as a hub for AS.... it doesn't make sense now to have a hub in the corner of the country but that is where they are hubbed.

wouldn't it be ironic if it is WN that now has to divest gates because of market concentration... isn't it at LAX where WN already boards the most number of passengers?

or are you hoping to acquire AS' overwater 737 capabilities?

 

[swamt]

You probably won't see 900's in our fleet until we buy Alaska Airlines.
Maybe sooner, but probably only after.

Not only that.  But even IF (notice big IF there) SWA was to consider the 900's, it will be some time after the 3's and 5's are completely gone and we would done to 7's 8's and the MAX.  But I concur with you. Pretty sure the only way would be thru another purchase and yes Alaska has been one of the top discussions as of late.  I don't see us buying 900's brand new, but would not rule it out if SWA saw the huge potential of expanding the international market.  I could see them purchasing some used ones if they can get them for a killer deal, and they are looking like crazy for used A/C everywhere.  I talked to one of our reps in charge of flying around and looking at many, many used A/C out there.  He said he hasn't hardly been home for the past year and is still being sent out and about.     Shhhhhhh.  Mums on Alaska I thought???  Oh man here we go.  Hey, you opened that can...

 

[WorldTraveler]

WN mgmt. has said that WN is not interested in the 900.

In WN's configuration, the 800 is already at the exit door limits. The only way a higher capacity 737 would work for WN is Boeing's new 737 MAX 200.
ALK, like DL and UA, can use the 739 because they have a FC cabin. WN's 738s only have 5 seats less (+/-) than the legacy carriers' 739s. WN's 738s have about 15 seats more than their 738s.

The only way WN could use 900s is if they add a FC cabin in order to keep the total seats on the aircraft below the exit row limits - or activate more emergency exits.

WN gets the CASM of other US carriers' 739s with the 738.

As for AS, their market cap is 1/3 of WN's. What does AS have that is worth 1/3 of the value of WN? SEA is not ideal for a domestic hub because of circuity for many connections and WN doesn't need a SEA hub for that reason; SEA is the vast majority of AS' ops.

A purchase of AS would put WN up against DL yet again and WN and DL have a pretty strong history of staying out of each other's ways - and WN has shrunk its presence in most DL hubs.

There is little reason to think that WN would be interested in an airline that has a hub in a city which isn't ideal for a hub.

Then you add in a lot of Alaska (the state) flying which doesn't fit WN's model of high volume cities.

AS is a lower CASM airline than WN that has gained that position by aggressive growth. Their CASM would quickly go up if the growth is stopped.

ALK is large in many cities on the west similar to WN. There is no reason to believe that AS and WN would be permitted to merge without the same types of divestitures that AA/US did.

Finally, AS has repeatedly said they don't want to merge and justify their position in part by the revenue they get from their multiple partners... I'm not sure why they would decide they want to be swallowed by WN any more than they would by DL or AA.

Let me know if AS decides to sell out to WN but no one should be holding their breath.

WN has enormous internal growth potential on their own, much of them int'l and to places where AS doesn't fly, and WN will do very well developing it.

There are a whole lot of other ways to buy 125 737s and over the water experience to Hawaii.

 

[swamt]

Let the partying begin!  Here we go now!!  W/A going away will be huge!!!
 
http://share.d-news.co/6rhhdrb

 

[swamt]

Just read where Air Canada is following West Jet's lead on charging for first checked bag.  This is good news.  Maybe SWA might look at a sooner time to jump up north (Canada) to take advantage of Bags Fly Free and gain the customers quickly.   It would make it alot easier with those two charging now for all bags.  I know some articles out there said 10 years, but if SWA sees an advantage hole in the network, it may be time to jump a little quicker into the Canada market...

 

[WorldTraveler]

it's more likely that WN and B6 will decide it is not worth giving up bag revenue that other carriers are getting.

bag fees to/from Canada are far less than the cost of taxes. There is still lots of air traffic to/from Canada that is carried to/from US airports.

 

[swamt]

Slightly dated (one month only) but loaded with good info:
 
Must-know: Southwest’s airport development initiatives and ...

 

[swamt]

Let the parties begin for the end of the W/A:
 
Southwest Airlines celebrates imminent end of Wright Amendment
 
A Very Special Southwest Deck Party
 
Let the good times begin...

 

[swamt]

Some very good and interesting numbers here.  Can't wait for the 3Q numbers:
 
Southwest Airlines Flies Higher On Growth Opportunities

 

[swamt]

As we await the 3Q numbers here's proof the Southwest Effect is still working.  Even after 2 years instead of just one year:
 
Travelers feeling the 'Southwest effect'