Lounges, first class and Europe!
 

...and an A350 order I guess? :p

787s will happen, its the only widebody that is currently on offer from Boeing that would fit. The A330s are too big, the 767 went out of Pax production years ago and the 777-8/9X are also too big, used 777-200ERs are worn out and ready to be scrapped.

The question is where we get 787s from. If we ordered them new we wouldn't get them until the mid 2030s if we ordered them NOW.

convert the max7 orders as a means of making SWA whole for the delays

Southwest won’t take the jump into a Max 9 or 10 but a 787 now seems likely? What are they putting in the water over there?

It’s extra sweetened Kool-aid a fresh brand new batch only the best !!!

I assume the plan will look something like this.

Leverage size and customer position with Boeing to get an initial batch of 787s (5-10) that will be delivered in a short window in approx 3-5 years. Boeing isn't going to tell the worlds largest operator of Boeing aircraft, exclusive to Boeing for 50+ years, to pound sand.

The initial crews will be domiciled somewhere like DEN (most likely) or BWI and will operate domestically at first to give time for things to be figured out before adding the complexity of international. Think DEN-BWI, DEN-HNL (when ETOPS is approved), DEN-BNA, DEN-MCO, etc. We will have to invent many things here to fly a big plane.

After a period of time has elapsed (maybe 12 months?) international will gradually be added in and more aircraft will come.

I hope you are correct. Public statements seem to indicate that single fleet type is the one remaining sacred cow they don't want to slay.

This thread starts with and links to an article where the CEO makes a "public statement" that "...you would need a different aircraft to serve that mission..."

Everything from the the before Elliott time of Southwest is going away or is up for review. Soon all that will be left is indolent FAs and the memories of the best aircraft there every was.

The scared cow of firing 1700 employees, bag fees, assign seating, etc has already happened. A second fleet type will come. I think things like lounges are coming sooner rather than later but the other big ticket items are a definite wait and see from a financial point of view. BJ has to prove to the BOD that all these new initiatives that already have been implemented will expand margins and generate more cash. Average airfares since Feb have fallen quite a bit according to the CPI. In the article he even admitted their are sales going on in a time when their shouldn’t be. Thats a little concerning. Hopefully these capacity cuts industry wide in the fall slow down domestic yield dilution. Earnings season begins in a couple of weeks for the airlines, so we’ll find out a lot more soon.