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Viva Mexico

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Explorer B


 
 
We're codesharing with who...or is it whom...I always forget, but who cares? I should be writing this in Spanish...do you write in Spanish? Wow, I'm struggling today with what few writing skills I have,  probably because I'm so excited about the announcement of our second International codeshare partner - Volaris.
 
It's Volaris...yes Volaris! You know, if you fuse the Spanish word volar (to fly) with the word Polaris (North Star) you get Volaris? Well, that's how they came up with their name, and I think it's a pretty cool name. What's even cooler is that Volaris is an exceptional low-cost airline flying in Mexico. They are focused on high levels of Customer Service and provide a great inflight experience. Volaris plans to begin flying in to the US sometime in 2009 and will become Southwest Airlines' Mexico codeshare partner in early 2010. If you haven't heard of Volaris, here's a little information that should give you a feel for them and why we think they will be a great partner!
 
Like our new codeshare partner WestJet, Volaris presently serves some pretty cool destinations...or should I say hot destinations! Places like Cancun, Cabo, Puerto Vallarta, and Acapulco are certainly great places to vacation. Mexico City (via Toluca), Monterrey, and Guadalajara are great business travel destinations and will complement our efforts to attract more business travelers.
 
Also, like WestJet, Volaris has a fun corporate culture. On one of our visits to their Headquarters, their VP of Sales was having his head shaved in front of the Volaris Employees—it was payback for the Employees who had met a revenue goal that he challenged them to meet. Their Employees are very energetic and love their airline. Their Customers join in the fun as well. They recently had an inflight concert! My favorite Customer experience was influenced by the free tequila and cerveza they served! They also give away Krispy Kreme donuts! It's a regular Fiesta!!! Oh yes, and every Volaris plane is named after one of their valued Customers. I can't wait to see Ricardo!
 
Unlike WestJet, Volaris is an unknown brand in the US. Although they are relatively small and certainly new (they began flying in 2006), Volaris has proven themselves itself as a successful and viable airline and are developing a new generation of flyers in Mexico. Coupled with the Southwest brand, network, and Customer base, the opportunities are huge.
 
Okay, enough of my rambling, whadoyouthink? 
 

 

302 Comments
Anonymous2877
Explorer C
All SWA employees should be VERY concerned about this announcement and the future of this airline. The deviciveness created by those in the GO will kill the SPIRIT, CULTURE, TRUST, AND COOPERATION of every union employee here. The small amount of revenue gained will be a pittance compared to the lost revenue caused by these decisions. Believe me, I have worked for a legacy carrier, and we are becomming more and more like them. Before long, the spirited employees of SWA will be noncaring bitching drones who come to work for a paycheck and couldn't care less what others (our pax) think of this place. Codeshare can work, but not without the continued growth of the mainline. We aren't growing domestically, we are shrinking. And to announce this now is a slap in our collective faces.
blusk
Aviator C
Thanks to everyone for commenting on this issue. The topic spurred a lively discussion. No new issues have been raised for the past day or so, and the comments have devolved into personal issues between commenters, so this is a good time to close the discussion. The Blog Team