Originally Posted by
Smooth at FL450
have you ever looked at the connections that are fed from our red eyes? We feed the entire country off those flights. Denver will only add to the options. “Low competition” like SAN LAX LAS PHX SJC and SMF where we go head to head with all the Hawaii players? I expect to see SLC and PDX added with the -7…
Do we need to serve a market nonstop in both directions? Like is that a regquiremnt? If so, Denver may be seasonal due to winds and augmented crew issues…
As for low margin…yes. If you look at the individual flight in isolation. Pan out and take the whole picture in and I’d argue otherwise.
Red eyes have its place. Definitely helps but SWA has the smallest connection footprint of the big three and ALK. Specifically, DEN is unique because of the many destinations it offers. It lends itself to more connectivity. Most of the Max 7’s SWA will get at least for the next couple of years will be mostly replacement of 700’s. Until fuel prices moderate, capacity growth will take a back seat. Only what’s necessary. Hawaii has garbage yields compared to the system average. Always has been. Ask Hawaiian. No matter what the product is. any new Hawaii service will be at places that SWA has a good amount of market share. SLC and PDX do not fit in that category and would be crushed by Delta and Alaska. Both those airports have massive connections from SWA competitors. Which means SWA would have to fight for O&D traffic. Unfortunately most of the other cities that SWA has a major footprint, SWA doesn’t have the airplane to do that kinda of range.