Doesn't SWA do "milk runs"? I've jump-seated STL to LAS via STL-OKC-LAS before. Half the aircraft stayed on at OKC.

WN doesn’t have a hub and spoke operation. Although they have busy airports (eg bwi) they don’t bank flights to make connections possible. They just play connect the dots with their network and a “flight” often has 2-4 legs

Yes. Pax will put up with that under the right circumstance. It's even easier than getting off the plane and connecting to another one at the hub.

If it looks like a milk run and sounds like a milk run...

milk runs are lots of origins and one destination. Mlu-gtr-atl is collecting pax for atl.

Stl-okc-las has a substantial number of people heading to okc

Eh, honestly the big hangup is turn-times. Solve that and it makes sense.

ok so check bags for free that way grandma isn’t holding up everyone while she endures her life and death struggle to lift a 20 lb suitcase, and don’t assign seats that away people self select where they want to sit and board faster.

Have lots of rampers, like more than you need so they have free time and then they’ll hustle when the planes get there. Also the extras help with diversions and Irops. Hire only self starters and mission oriented pilots (lol) and develop a corporate structure to encourage that. In case anybody slips through the hiring board the culture will squeeze them out. Pay by distance not by time. All to encourage everyone to fly on the clacker, turn the planes as fast as humanely possible, and drive the aircraft utilization through the roof.

Then remember the names of all your employees and treat them well, smoke and drink wild turkey all the time, and retire rich and beloved.

wait a sec…

That sounds familiar.

Exactly....

You would think someone would have thought of that by now.

Having fast turn times only goes so far though. Rising fuel costs are still an issue. To really be profitable you would have to figure out some sort of strategy to lock in low fuel costs. Also, consider maintenance. How could you possibly avoid the costs associated with having to order parts and train on so many different aircraft types? Lots of issues to work through there.