The commuter thread
03-12-2023 | 07:35 PM
#53
Line Holder
Joined: Dec 2017
Posts: 1,122
Likes: 101
From: 737 FO
They’re very small. Part of the deal with being on a satellite base is that you have to find your own sick coverage and that works as well as you might imagine. Not the best look during a pandemic, but I’m not the one who decided to open them.
03-13-2023 | 01:29 PM
#56
Line Holder
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 244
Likes: 22
STL is what it is and will probably stay that way until the city comes to the realization that SWA is the only game in town and will be for some time. STL got burned big time by TWA, so I can't say that I blame them for being risk averse. There used to be a thriving community where the extra runway that they no longer need is located.
Their current plan is to demolish Terminal 2 and consolidate to terminal 1 and renovate it. I actually think that is a solid plan. It is a good connector station and a midway reliever airport. Overnights are cheap. It won't become a crew base.
BNA is just too close to ATL. Most of the growth there in the future isn't SWA related. Unless there is some sort of mini domicile or virtual base plan, I wouldn't be too bullish on it becoming a base either.
KCI I could actually see. Splits the difference between MDW and DEN. The city has made a huge commitment. Better customer experience for connectors. They can play it against STL.
I don't think SWA is opening another traditional crew base for at least 5 more years, if ever. I think the future is growing our network in conus, especially out west, followed by more slow network growth in profitable US markets.
I don't run an airline, though.
Their current plan is to demolish Terminal 2 and consolidate to terminal 1 and renovate it. I actually think that is a solid plan. It is a good connector station and a midway reliever airport. Overnights are cheap. It won't become a crew base.
BNA is just too close to ATL. Most of the growth there in the future isn't SWA related. Unless there is some sort of mini domicile or virtual base plan, I wouldn't be too bullish on it becoming a base either.
KCI I could actually see. Splits the difference between MDW and DEN. The city has made a huge commitment. Better customer experience for connectors. They can play it against STL.
I don't think SWA is opening another traditional crew base for at least 5 more years, if ever. I think the future is growing our network in conus, especially out west, followed by more slow network growth in profitable US markets.
I don't run an airline, though.
03-13-2023 | 03:13 PM
#57
weekends off? Nope...
Joined: Apr 2014
Posts: 2,407
Likes: 133
In my NH class in 1994 the VP of Schedule Planning said that BNA would never be a base because they could originate a plane on the East Coast and get it to BNA in time to be an originator. Basically getting an extra leg out of it. If they did that with numerous East Coast originators that would make it difficult to justify a base. There, now you have a clue 
03-13-2023 | 04:29 PM
#58
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 4,553
Likes: 396
Southwest makes the majority of its money in the western half of the US. California business travelers have money to spend and love frequency. This next year is pretty much devoted to adding frequency. You can bet the majority of that is going to be in the western United States.
There is a reason that SWA defends that turf with a vengeance.
There is a reason that SWA defends that turf with a vengeance.
03-13-2023 | 07:11 PM
#59
Gets Weekends Off
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 290
Likes: 0
03-13-2023 | 07:28 PM
#60
Line Holder
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 997
Likes: 68
Southwest makes the majority of its money in the western half of the US. California business travelers have money to spend and love frequency. This next year is pretty much devoted to adding frequency. You can bet the majority of that is going to be in the western United States.
There is a reason that SWA defends that turf with a vengeance.
There is a reason that SWA defends that turf with a vengeance.
In the West, Southwest is an airline for business people. Including the BUR-LAS flights.
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