He said "Southwest Airlines Chairman, President and CEO Gary Kelly says it would be “fantastic” if the airline could find a way to retire the Boeing 717s that were part of its AirTran Airways acquisition before their leases expire..."

I read that as he would do it tomorrow, but he has to eat them for now. He built the ready made furlough group with his Icahn-esq list building. He just can't find someone to take them off his hands so is unable to do it as fast as he'd like.