Southwest Airlines Statement Regarding the TWU 556 Executive Board Vote on the Boeing 737-800

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Southwest Airlines Statement Regarding the TWU 556 Executive Board Vote on the Boeing 737-800

DALLAS, Sept 15, 2010 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ --

The decision to bring the Boeing 737-800 into the Southwest Airlines fleet moved one step closer today as the Executive Board of the Transport Workers Union (TWU) Local 556, representing more than 9,700 Southwest Flight Attendants unanimously approved a tentative agreement reached with the Company. The tentative agreement will now be presented to members of TWU Local 556 for a ratification vote.

"Southwest has been evaluating the opportunity to introduce the Boeing 737-800 into our fleet as part of our domestic network, and an important step in our due diligence was to discuss contract reopener provisions for a new aircraft with our Flight Attendant and Pilot unions," said Mike Van de Ven, Southwest Airlines Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. "The TWU negotiating committee quickly grasped the potential benefits along with the added operational complexities associated with adding the -800 to our fleet. The fact that we can have these discussions over the course of a couple of meetings and quickly find a common ground that is a win for our Company and our Flight Attendants is a testament to the collaboration and longterm vision of the Flight Attendants' Union Leadership."

If the Company pursues the -800, a joint committee would meet to work on the logistical details related to scheduling and bidding procedures that adding a fourth Flight Attendant will require. If approved by a majority vote of the Flight Attendants, their current contract also will be extended by one year, becoming amendable May 31, 2013, and also include the potential for wage rate increases based on the Company's financial performance.

The decision to add the -800 still isn't final; we are still in discussion with our Pilots Union, SWAPA, and are continuing to evaluate network and configuration options. As such, any details regarding firm orders with Boeing, timing, and quantity of deliveries are still to be determined.

http://www.southwest.com/?src=PREMNAS737800STMT100915

SOURCE Southwest Airlines

[Mike_Barnbaum]

This is an interesting news article to say the least. The operational complexities caught my eye as far as adding the Boeing 737-800 into the SouthWest Airlines Route Network as well as the need to add the fourth flight attendant. I'm not an expert on resolving the operational complexities in adding the 737-800 to the route network, but it seems to me that when it gets mentioned that there will need to be a fourth flight attendant added with introduction of such an aircraft to the fleet, one then begins to think that there needs to be one flight attendant for every, let's say, 37 or 38 passengers, whereas it seems like today there is one flight attendant for every , let's say, 45 or 46 passengers. This new aircraft then results in a net reduction in the ratio of the number of passengers per flight attendant, in a so-called "perfect world" for lack of a better phrase. It would appear to me that flight that operate "Coast to Coast" would be most advantageous to SouthWest Airlines when considering where in the route network this aircraft would go. Flights today that ar on nonstops light Baltimore to Los Angeles would be good candidates, in my analysis, to get this aircraft. There are possibly other factors to consider like facility infrastructure at each airport SouthWest serves. This will be interesting to say the least. I hope the best for SouthWest and carving out the resolutions to the operational complexities that are involved in making these upcoming critical decisions. Would Newark be a possibility for the 737-800? Like many reading this comment section, we shall see.

[Charles__Yeoman]

Your 800 series aircraft appears to be a blessing. One question I have concerns the need for three flights to travel from point A to point B. Could this be eliminated or modified? Right now I have been told that your reservation only allows for one [1] transfer. When an additional transfer is needed one must pick up checked luggage and then restart the checking in procedure outside the operating area and proceed through airport security which takes a lot of time and makes it difficult to make connections when there is only an hour or less between connecting flights. As I learned both passengers and luggage must follow this procedure at the present time. Thanks for viewing my comment and an answer is desired. Thanks

[Austin_Bankrupt]

The larger aircraft are particularly useful at slot controlled airports such as LaGuardia and Reagan National where the only way to add capacity is by using bigger aircraft. Also Love Field is limited as to the number of gates so eventually I think Southwest will use larger aircraft there as well. It is consistent with Southwest's conmservative and carefully strategy to go for the -800 rather than the -900 but I would not be surprised if -900 are ordered too at some point unless Boeing's next narrowbody jet comes first.

[RyuSuperCham]

Terrific post, I will be sure to come back and visit!