First of all, I really feel for anyone who had a class date or a CJO and got blindsided by the sudden ceasing of hiring. That, coupled with the company's insistence on honoring the 225 guys' hiring but not theirs is really a bad way to do business IMO. Do them all or don't do any of them if you are basing these decisions on promises.

Traditional hiring isn't coming back any time soon. Southwest doesn't have any plans for the Max 7 in 2025. That is the first time that they have projected an entire year without operating those aircraft. Sadly, Southwest is married to Boeing, and Boeing is down in Boca Raton in a posh rehab center for a severe drug, alcohol, and gambling addiction right now. Things look promising, but guessing they aren't going to be delivering any new planes anytime soon. Fleet numbers for SWA are flat to slightly down for the year and we are already overmanned. Retirements will take care of a little of that, but some 225 guys are coming in the door also.

Honestly, the Boeing thing is a bit of a blessing in disguise. Demand is super soft right now and Southwest is treading water. Flooding more seats into the market isn't going to make things any better. The only thing that hurts SWA is that they have an over abundance of 175 seat airplanes in markets that don't need that many seats. That hurts load factors and yields. 700s are being retired and max 8 aircraft are still being delivered. There are big plans underway, but that along with Boeing isn't going to resolve itself any time soon.