Originally Posted by
iaflyer
No way. Southwest doesn't play that game. They don't enter a market unless it can handle the traffic of say, 5 destinations for 737s immediately. If the market would only fill a 100 seater, they would either lower prices to fill their jets, or not serve it. The additional cost of a different aircraft type cannot, for Southwest, be made up with higher revenue.
Remember, a different aircraft type comes with all sorts of costs - two sets of maintenance parts, cost to train people on the new jet. Cost to train their replacements on the old jet. Cost to buy simulators. Cost of people in training who aren't generating revenue. Cost to train flight attendants. Possible moving costs of people bidding new jet. Opportunity costs when wrong sized jet is in the right city. Cost to train maintenance personnel, dispatchers, deicering personnel.
It seems like the only airlines making money these days are those who keep it simple.
Perhaps in the old days but SWA has changed their M.O. in recent years to catch more revenue opportunities. They now serve airports like BOS, MSP, and LGA which they'd never touch 5 years ago, plus they were going to keep Lynx in the Frontier deal. IOW, never say never. I wouldn't be surprised to see them with an E190 type aircraft for use on thinner routes & smaller markets much as JetBlue does. For the future -- a more modern 737...I hear Boeing is looking at re-engining the NG with a newer powerplant to make it more fuel efficient.