And so it begins, the long slow slide down the road to mediocrity. SW has peaked and is a mature airline. Costs go up when growth slows. One day SW will be the "old man" with all kinds of younger "whipper snappers" nipping at their heals and erroading their market share. Strained labor relations are just around the corner. BK is the final solution.

Can any airline avoid it?

"it's the circle of life!"