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- Aug 20, 2002
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Here''s something other than disrobing pilots. From Newsday:
Southwest Spreads Its Wings
Founder breaks ground for new terminal at MacArthur
By Jeff Meyer
STAFF WRITER
May 1, 2003
Dozens of Southwest Airlines employees, dressed in navy slacks and white T-shirts, gave their company''s chairman a rock-star welcome yesterday at Long Island MacArthur Airport.
They chanted Herb, Herb, Herb as Southwest''s gregarious founder, Herb Kelleher, approached a podium in a dirt field beside the Ronkonkoma airport''s terminal.
He used a golden shovel to break ground on the approximately $40 million project to build a more spacious terminal that can handle eight additional daily flights when completed next April.
Unlike many airline executives, Kelleher has reason to smile as he did yesterday. While some other carriers have filed for bankruptcy, or are flirting with it, and laid off thousands of workers, Kelleher''s low-cost, no-frills airline experienced its 30th consecutive year of profitability. And, as witnessed by the scene at MacArthur, the 72-year-old, back-slapping Texan enjoys at least a decent relationship with employees.
While the three largest U.S. carriers, American Airlines, United Airlines and Delta Air Lines, lost a combined $9 billion in 2002, Southwest earned $240 million.
Since beginning service from MacArthur four years ago, Southwest has nearly doubled its weekly flights to 157. The airline''s orange jets fly nonstop to seven airports, including Chicago Midway, Baltimore/Washington International, Nashville International and four in Florida.
The new 4-gate terminal will be built to the east of the existing concourse and ticket counters. It will include new restaurants and shops, and will replace Southwest''s current three gates. Construction has begun on a new 2,000-space parking lot.
Islip Town Supervisor Pete McGowan praised Southwest for paying for most of the project. The company did not ask the town for money, although it is seeking federal subsidies, according to a company spokeswoman. The town owns the airport.
Kelleher mugged for photographs, kissed babies and signed autographs for employees wearing Team Islip T-shirts. At one point, he held a cocktail napkin to the chest of ground operations agent Chris DeSanto and scrawled Herbie.
Like many of Southwest''s 127 MacArthur-based employees, DeSanto, of Centereach, said he considered himself fortunate to still be employed while all my brothers and sisters in the industry are being laid off.
Southwest Spreads Its Wings
Founder breaks ground for new terminal at MacArthur
By Jeff Meyer
STAFF WRITER
May 1, 2003
Dozens of Southwest Airlines employees, dressed in navy slacks and white T-shirts, gave their company''s chairman a rock-star welcome yesterday at Long Island MacArthur Airport.
They chanted Herb, Herb, Herb as Southwest''s gregarious founder, Herb Kelleher, approached a podium in a dirt field beside the Ronkonkoma airport''s terminal.
He used a golden shovel to break ground on the approximately $40 million project to build a more spacious terminal that can handle eight additional daily flights when completed next April.
Unlike many airline executives, Kelleher has reason to smile as he did yesterday. While some other carriers have filed for bankruptcy, or are flirting with it, and laid off thousands of workers, Kelleher''s low-cost, no-frills airline experienced its 30th consecutive year of profitability. And, as witnessed by the scene at MacArthur, the 72-year-old, back-slapping Texan enjoys at least a decent relationship with employees.
While the three largest U.S. carriers, American Airlines, United Airlines and Delta Air Lines, lost a combined $9 billion in 2002, Southwest earned $240 million.
Since beginning service from MacArthur four years ago, Southwest has nearly doubled its weekly flights to 157. The airline''s orange jets fly nonstop to seven airports, including Chicago Midway, Baltimore/Washington International, Nashville International and four in Florida.
The new 4-gate terminal will be built to the east of the existing concourse and ticket counters. It will include new restaurants and shops, and will replace Southwest''s current three gates. Construction has begun on a new 2,000-space parking lot.
Islip Town Supervisor Pete McGowan praised Southwest for paying for most of the project. The company did not ask the town for money, although it is seeking federal subsidies, according to a company spokeswoman. The town owns the airport.
Kelleher mugged for photographs, kissed babies and signed autographs for employees wearing Team Islip T-shirts. At one point, he held a cocktail napkin to the chest of ground operations agent Chris DeSanto and scrawled Herbie.
Like many of Southwest''s 127 MacArthur-based employees, DeSanto, of Centereach, said he considered himself fortunate to still be employed while all my brothers and sisters in the industry are being laid off.
