The domestic market doesn't have much place to go like the good old days of growth. There is the possibility of buyout/merger but its a hard sell since SWA thinks they can just staple whoever they buy. That would turn the so called feel good work environment on its ear if it were even legal to start with.
SWA has enjoyed many advantages (as a result of good management from years past):
1. Fuel hedging had a long history of success. They actually made money year over year. This no longer seems to be the case.
2. Low debt and one airplane type. They held onto their planes longer (which is easier to do if your mission is always domestic). Now they are hinting at a different type and or maybe eventually international. Any advantage they have had by flying 737-300's around that were paid off would be gone. They would have to pay for their new planes and incur debt just like everybody else.
3. Lower paid pilots relative to the rest of the industry. No longer the case, although I could see Kelly trying to hold them where they are at as legacies, etc make gains... conceivably this would put SWA pilots at the lower middle of the range possibly giving them this one small advantage again.
All in all the the days of double digit growth, quick upgrades and big profits are pretty much over. Retirements are the best hope for advancement.
One other thing worth noting, an airline wanting to go international doesn't just buy 787's and start flying international routes. Landing slots seem to be the sticking point for most international ops. Landing slots have been carved out over many years and not something you obtain overnight because you decided international flying was your new cup of tea. The only way SWA could remotely have success in international is to pick up a chunk of routes from a legacy (not likely to happen at this point) or buy a legacy and merge (not likely to happen at this point). The best SWA could hope for is international code share and most likely where they will end up...feeding a US Legacy or established international operators from other countries. Of course they need to be careful, too many changes and they will end up a has been regional airline feeding hub and spoke not unlike Skywest, Gojets, etc
Southwest Airlines orders 25 Boeing 737 jets - BusinessWeek
Southwest Airlines Co. said Thursday it will take delivery of 25 Boeing 737-700 jets beginning next year to replace some of its older "classic" models of the same plane.
The airline said it has no immediate plans to increase the size of its fleet, currently at 544 planes -- all 737s -- until travel demand picks up.
Southwest said it exercised options to buy 25 planes with delivery beginning next year and running through 2016 to replace less fuel-efficient older aircraft. The airline said it has the right to buy 98 planes through 2021.