Southwest to run full schedule by winter...
05-28-2020, 01:31 PM
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Southwest to run full schedule by winter...
Wow. Rock and roll, I guess!
https://thepointsguy.com/news/southw...full-schedule/
Southwest Airlines is betting on its history of growing out of economic slowdowns to be among the first airlines to resume a full flight schedule after the coronavirus pandemic.
On Thursday, the Dallas-based carrier extended its schedule through Jan. 4, 2021. The plans call for about as many flights as it flew at the end of 2019 by the end of this year. That includes growing the number of available seats for sale by 10% or more at its bases in Denver (DEN), Las Vegas (LAS), Nashville (BNA) and Phoenix (PHX).
This comes as other airlines, notably American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines, warn staff that they will be significantly smaller at the end of the year compared to 2019. American and Delta have retired hundreds of jets, while American plans to prune its management workforce by as much as 30%.
“As we’ve seen in past downturns, we’ve been able to capture substantial demand post the downturn,” Southwest commercial chief Andrew Watterson told TPG when asked about the recovery from COVID-19 in an interview. “We’d expect no different this time.”
Following 9/11, the closest comparable crisis to the coronavirus, Southwest did not cut any flights after returning to the sky. The airline even added Norfolk (ORF) to its map as planned in October 2001.
In addition to flying a full schedule this winter, Southwest plans to add 11 new routes to its map beginning in November. The additions include:
https://thepointsguy.com/news/southw...full-schedule/
Southwest Airlines is betting on its history of growing out of economic slowdowns to be among the first airlines to resume a full flight schedule after the coronavirus pandemic.
On Thursday, the Dallas-based carrier extended its schedule through Jan. 4, 2021. The plans call for about as many flights as it flew at the end of 2019 by the end of this year. That includes growing the number of available seats for sale by 10% or more at its bases in Denver (DEN), Las Vegas (LAS), Nashville (BNA) and Phoenix (PHX).
This comes as other airlines, notably American Airlines, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines, warn staff that they will be significantly smaller at the end of the year compared to 2019. American and Delta have retired hundreds of jets, while American plans to prune its management workforce by as much as 30%.
“As we’ve seen in past downturns, we’ve been able to capture substantial demand post the downturn,” Southwest commercial chief Andrew Watterson told TPG when asked about the recovery from COVID-19 in an interview. “We’d expect no different this time.”
Following 9/11, the closest comparable crisis to the coronavirus, Southwest did not cut any flights after returning to the sky. The airline even added Norfolk (ORF) to its map as planned in October 2001.
In addition to flying a full schedule this winter, Southwest plans to add 11 new routes to its map beginning in November. The additions include:
- Atlanta (ATL): Louisville (SDF), Oklahoma City (OKC) and Omaha (OMA) all on Dec. 17
- Austin (AUS): Long Beach (LGB) on Nov. 1
- Denver: Birmingham (BHM), Little Rock (LIT) and Wichita (ICT) all on Dec. 17
- Houston Hobby (HOU): Ontario, California (ONT) on Nov. 1
- Nashville: Orange County (SNA) on Nov. 2
- Phoenix: Long Beach on Nov. 1, and Memphis (MEM) on Dec. 17
06-10-2020, 04:09 AM
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06-10-2020, 05:16 AM
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Great article and very confidence inspiring. FWIW, the plan is to throw the full schedule up by the December holidays and then reduce off of that if demand isn’t there. I like the plan 
06-10-2020, 05:43 AM
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And from a selfish standpoint, it’s great for the pilot group. They’ll have to staff for a full schedule (so no furlough......fingers crossed), but more line guarantee pay protection if they have to cancel flights.
06-10-2020, 06:02 AM
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Originally Posted by Squallrider
"By the fourth quarter Kelly expects that Southwest will have a legitimate shot at operating at or above the breakeven point on a cash basis."
That's why he's bullish. Still be net losses but operating income maybe breakeven. That's a big deal.
Funny during good times the single type sucks, p2p sucks. We fly too much. Need another fleet type, etc.
During bad times, single fleet type is great, offers flexibility, saves jobs, expansion opportunities. Rinse and repeat.
06-10-2020, 10:47 AM
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Originally Posted by REF 5
The most important sentence in the whole article.
"By the fourth quarter Kelly expects that Southwest will have a legitimate shot at operating at or above the breakeven point on a cash basis."
That's why he's bullish. Still be net losses but operating income maybe breakeven. That's a big deal.
Funny during good times the single type sucks, p2p sucks. We fly too much. Need another fleet type, etc.
During bad times, single fleet type is great, offers flexibility, saves jobs, expansion opportunities. Rinse and repeat.
"By the fourth quarter Kelly expects that Southwest will have a legitimate shot at operating at or above the breakeven point on a cash basis."
That's why he's bullish. Still be net losses but operating income maybe breakeven. That's a big deal.
Funny during good times the single type sucks, p2p sucks. We fly too much. Need another fleet type, etc.
During bad times, single fleet type is great, offers flexibility, saves jobs, expansion opportunities. Rinse and repeat.
I love flying with guys that literally like bashing Gary Kelly and pretending to know everything about running an airline. If we had any other CEO right now things would be looking different. There will be a day when GK is long retired and people will wish they had him compared to who ever else will be next.
06-10-2020, 11:51 AM
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Originally Posted by Zman81
I love flying with guys that literally like bashing Gary Kelly and pretending to know everything about running an airline. If we had any other CEO right now things would be looking different. There will be a day when GK is long retired and people will wish they had him compared to who ever else will be next.
06-10-2020, 11:57 AM
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Originally Posted by NewGuy01
You guys are really lucky to be working with a CEO that has some vision other than retreat and shrink to profitability.
Time will tell if either strategy was
the right one. Hoping for everyone that a uptick happens soon
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