Southwest Airlines Community

from Joe Sharkey At Large by joesharkey I recently spoke at some length with John Guidon, the co-founder of Row44, the company that is emerging as a major competitor to Aircell in the business of supplying in-flight Wi-Fi service on airplanes. Southwest Airlines has been testing Row44’s satellite-based system on four of its 737s all year, and is expected to decide this fall whether to roll out Wi-Fi on all of its fleet. Alaska Airlines has also tested Row44 on a single aircraft. Aircell, meanwhile, has installed its Gogo system — a land-tower based technology — on nearly 500 airplanes, including all of AirTran’s and Virgin America’s fleets, with Delta’s mainline domestic fleets to be fully equipped by late September. American, US Airways and United are also installing Gogo. Guidon’s background is in satellite, digital communications and internet technology. He’s also a private pilot. His technology career included consulting on airborne electronics for Marconi Space and Defense Systems, then as an engineer for Litton, where he was responsible for navigation elements still used in aircraft today. He founded the microelectronics consultancy GME, which he took to $20 million in annual sales and, after 10 years, recast as chip-maker ComCore Semiconductor, which he sold to National Semiconductor for $150 million. to read the interview, visit: http://boardingarea.com/blogs/joesharkey/2009/08/07/interview-with-row44s-chief-john-guidon/ Row44, based in Westlake Village, Calif., this week received its permanent operating license from the Federal Communications Commission. ... View more

By ERIC TORBENSON / The Dallas Morning News The fate of Frontier Airlines Inc. will probably be decided Tuesday in the New York offices of a law firm on Manhattan's East Side. The Denver-based carrier's bankruptcy restructuring appears headed toward an auction of its assets featuring Dallas' Southwest Airlines Co. and rival Republic Airways Holdings Inc. The two will take their original bids – $108.8 million from Republic, $113.6 million from Southwest – and raise them by $1 million increments in the presence of representatives from Frontier and its creditors' committee. to read more, visit: http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/bus/stories/DN-frontier_07bus.ART0.State.Edition1.3cf58ec.html ... View more

A few months ago, Southwest Airlines announced their new P.A.W.S. policy: Pets Are Welcome on Southwest. The news received a lot of press, but why? Most airlines already offered, and have offered for years, the same type of policy. If you're planning on traveling with your pet, take a moment to review all major airline pet policies before making your decision. to review them all, visit: http://www.examiner.com/x-9146-Houston-Cats-Examiner~y2009m8d6-Pets-101-What-is-your-favorite-airlines-pet-policy ... View more

By W. David Gardner In a development that is likely to heat up global competition to provide Wi-Fi on passenger aircraft, Row 44 reported Thursday that the Federal Communications Commission has granted it a permanent operating license to provide Internet service on planes. The license, when combined with Row 44's existing agreements with the Mexican and Canadian governments, means the company will be able to provide its satellite-based Wi-Fi service throughout North America. The company also indicated it will offer its service in additional global markets. "Ours is the first solution offering true broadband to airline passengers, both domestically and overseas, delivering an experience comparable to the high Internet speeds they enjoy at home and work," said Row 44 CEO John Guidon, in a statement. Row 44, whose service has been tested by Alaska Airlines and Southwest Airlines, is supported by Hughes Network Systems, whose broadband satellite technology reaches many global markets. to read more, visit: http://www.informationweek.com/story/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=219100324  ... View more

Southwest Airlines Co. said Thursday its traffic rose 5.2 percent in July, in stark contrast to most other carriers, as it cut capacity to fill more seats. The low-cost airline said it flew paying passengers 7.24 billion miles last month, compared with 6.89 billion miles in July 2008. to read more, visit: http://www.cnbc.com/id/32315169 ... View more

The top performers in each category of the U.S. Department of Transportation’s Air Travel Consumer Report for June 2009 are listed below.  For June 2009, Southwest placed first in Complaints, seventh in Ontime Performance, and eighth in Baggage Handling. Complaints (Per 100,000 Customers) 1. Southwest 0.19 2. ExpressJet 0.23 3. Skywest  0.31 4. Alaska  0.50 5. Hawaiian 0.57 6. Frontier  0.66 7. Atlantic Southeast 0.77 8. JetBlue  0.89 9. American Eagle 0.90 10. Mesa  0.91 Ontime Performance (Percent) 1. Hawaiian 93.3 2. Alaska  84.5 3. ExpressJet 82.0 4. Pinnacle  80.7 5. Continental 80.5 6. Skywest  80.4 7. Southwest 78.1 8. US Airways 78.0 9. Delta  76.1 10. AirTran  75.3 Baggage Handling (Per 1,000 Customers) 1. AirTran  1.67 2. Hawaiian 1.92 3. JetBlue  2.47 4. Northwest 2.53 5. Frontier  2.69 6. Continental 2.78 7. US Airways 3.21 8. Southwest 3.50 9. ExpressJet 3.98 10. Alaska  4.07 The Air Travel Consumer Report can be viewed in full online at http://airconsumer.ost.dot.gov/reports/index.htm. ... View more

Companies like Ford, Southwest Airlines and Pepsi are using social networking Web sites, and changing corporate culture to do it. Stacey Vanek-Smith reports. to listen, visit: http://marketplace.publicradio.org/display/web/2009/08/04/am-social-networking/ ... View more

Next week Southwest Airlines Co. will do something that Herbert Kelleher, its legendary former chief executive, said would never happen: The airline will offer flights at Boston’s Logan International Airport. Long viewed as a congested, expensive big-city airport, Logan is now the darling of discounters, boasting a new terminal, new runway, new parking and easy access through a new harbor tunnel. JetBlue Airways Corp. is now the biggest airline there in terms of flights and nonstop destinations, and has been gobbling up customers from American, Delta Air Lines and other airlines. Virgin America, AirTran, Sun Country and Spirit all land at Logan, as well. to read more about Southwest coming to BOS, visit: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203674704574332283606370174.html ... View more

Word Thursday that Dallas-based Southwest Airlines is making an 11th-hour bid to acquire bankrupt Frontier Airlines may be good news for Denver passengers and for Denver International Airport. In a news release, Southwest CEO Gary Kelly confirms that his airline, which first entered the Denver market in January 2006, hopes to outbid Republic Airways Holdings for the right to acquire Frontier.  Southwest topped Republic’s $108.8 million offer with its own tentative bid worth at least $113.6 million. And don’t be surprised if before this is over, either Southwest , Republic or both offer even more. While Republic’s offer was already approved on July 13th by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York, the bankruptcy court can entertain other bidders until this coming Monday. If two or more companies are vying for Frontier, an auction will be held on August 11th, according to the Associated Press. Adding Frontier to  Southwest would give the combined carrier roughly one-third of the Denver market. While that would still trail United’s 50% share at DIA -- and should not face any anti-trust obstacles --  Southwest would emerge as a true, fiscally solid challenger to United’s dominance in Colorado. to read more, visit: http://www.examiner.com/x-16299-Denver-Business-Commentary-Examiner~y2009m7d31-Southwest-Airlines-bid-for-Frontier-good-news-for-passengers-DIA ... View more

Of the three largest carriers at Denver International Airport, Southwest Airlines planes arrived on time 78.15 percent of the time in June at the nation’s airports, while United Airlines flights arrived on time 72.6 percent of the time and Frontier Airlines 67.97 percent of the time. to read more, visit: http://news.moneycentral.msn.com/provider/providerarticle.aspx?feed=ACBJ&date=20090804&id=10227501 ... View more

Southwest Airlines new service between Chicago/Midway and New York’s La Guardia Airport has a better chance of operating on-time than the usual less than 60 percent punctuality that has become the norm at LGA. They are also more likely to be on-schedule than Delta Airlines flights with the same exact routing. to read more, visit: http://www.examiner.com/x-12585-Minneapolis-AirlinesAirport-Examiner~y2009m8d3-Southwest-finds-a-way-to-operate-ontime-at-La-Guardia ... View more

to watch the video, visit: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aZDBi-B-wtg&NR=1 ... View more

By Steve Raabe The Denver Post Consumers should not fear a major increase in airfares if Southwest Airlines successfully bids for Frontier, analysts said Thursday. While the proposed deal would reduce competition by consolidating two of the three largest carriers serving Denver, Southwest fares — assuming a consolidation of Frontier's routes — are likely to stay competitive with No. 1 United Airlines. "Generally when there is less competition, it produces higher fares," said Bijan Vasigh, a professor of air-transport finance at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, Fla. "But Southwest is not operating by that strategy. Their approach traditionally has been to provide lower fares and greater frequency of service." to read more, visit: http://www.denverpost.com/headlines/ci_12953862 ... View more

"No matter what happens here, you're going to end up with good service. Now when you lose a competitor some of the fare pressure goes away but Southwest Airlines has never been known to gouge a market." --Mike Boyd, aviation consultant To watch the news clip, visit: http://www.9news.com/rss/article.aspx?storyid=120476 ... View more

Surprise, surprise! Southwest bids for Frontier Southwest caught a lot of people off guard when it announced today it was preparing a bid for Frontier Airlines. The announcement sets up an auction contest next month with regional rival Republic Airways. Collective wisdom was that Southwest wouldn’t go after Frontier because the former airline operates an all Boeing 737 fleet, while Frontier flies Airbus planes. After we got up off the floor and started thinking about the potential deal, we liked it. Here’s some of what’s to like: to read more, visit: http://eyeonlaaviation.blogspot.com/2009/07/surprise-surprise-southwest-bids-for.html ... View more

Southwest Airlines Co.'s planned bid for bankrupt Frontier Airlines is getting good early reviews, even though the two airlines would have to reconcile their fleets of Boeing and Airbus planes. Roger King, an airline analyst with CreditSights, told the Dallas Business Journal on Thursday that Dallas-based Southwest's bid would be a "great move from a strategy standpoint." King said it's time-consuming and costly for airlines to add cities and grow market share by adding flights over a period of time. to read more, visit: http://dallas.bizjournals.com/dallas/stories/2009/07/27/daily44.html ... View more

Frontier Airlines Holdings, Inc. (OTCBB: FRNTQ) today announced that Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE: LUV) has submitted an initial non-binding proposal to acquire Frontier under the auction procedures established in Frontier’s Chapter 11 bankruptcy cases and approved by the U.S. Bankruptcy Court. As previously announced, on July 13 the judge presiding over Frontier’s Chapter 11 bankruptcy cases in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York approved a proposed investment agreement between Frontier and Republic Airways Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: RJET). Pursuant to the investment agreement, Republic agreed to purchase 100% of the stock of Frontier Holdings upon its emergence from bankruptcy for $108.75 million, so long as certain conditions are met. Frontier Airlines Holdings would become a wholly-owned subsidiary of Republic, an airline holding company that owns Chautauqua Airlines, Republic Airlines and Shuttle America. The Republic investment agreement provides for an auction period, during which Frontier may seek higher or otherwise better competing bids. If Frontier identifies such a bid, it can terminate the Republic investment agreement and accept the other offer. Under the auction procedures approved by the Court, interested bidders must submit an initial proposal by Aug. 3, 2009, and a final proposal by Aug. 10, 2009. Frontier and its advisors, in consultation with the Unsecured Creditors’ Committee appointed in Frontier’s Chapter 11 cases, will conduct an auction, if necessary, on Aug. 11, 2009, to consider all qualified proposals and determine the highest or otherwise best proposal. Frontier currently expects to emerge from Chapter 11 this autumn. Frontier and its subsidiaries filed voluntary petitions for reorganization under Chapter 11 of the U.S. Bankruptcy Code on April 10, 2008. More information about Frontier’s Chapter 11 proceedings is available at FrontierAirlines.com/restructure. Court filings and claims information are available at frontier-restructuring.com. Frontier’s principal restructuring counsel is Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP. About Frontier Airlines Holdings, Inc. Frontier Airlines Holdings, Inc. is the parent company of Denver-based Frontier Airlines. Currently in its 16th year of operations, Frontier Airlines is the second-largest jet service carrier at Denver International Airport, employing approximately 5,000 aviation professionals. Frontier Airlines' mainline operation has 51 aircraft with one of the youngest Airbus fleets in North America. Frontier Airlines' mainline operations offer 24 channels of DIRECTV® service in every seatback along with a comfortable all-coach configuration. In conjunction with a fleet of ten Bombardier Q400 aircraft operated by Lynx Aviation (a subsidiary of Frontier Airlines Holdings, Inc.), Frontier offers routes to more than 50 destinations in the U.S., Mexico and Costa Rica. Starting later this year, Frontier will further expand the destination options available to its customers with a new codeshare agreement with Midwest Airlines. For more in-depth information on Frontier Airlines, please visit its Web site at FrontierAirlines.com. Safe Harbor Statement under the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995: Statements contained in this press release that are not historical facts may be forward-looking statements as that item is defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could result in actual results differing materially from expected results and represent the Company's expectations and beliefs concerning future events based on information available to the Company as of the date of this press release. The Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that may arise after the date of this press release. Additional information regarding risk factors that may affect future performance at the Company are contained in the Company's SEC filings, including without limitation, the Company's Form 10-K for its fiscal year ended March 31, 2009. ... View more

Southwest Airlines (NYSE: LUV) confirmed today that the carrier is preparing a bid to acquire Denver-based Frontier Airlines, which will be sold at auction in bankruptcy court next month.  The carrier has submitted a nonbinding proposal in accordance with the bidding procedures established in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York.  The bid is worth a minimum of $113.6 million, which is in excess of the bid currently filed by Republic Airways.   Submission of a nonbinding proposal gives Southwest an opportunity to engage with Frontier in the due diligence required to determine the scope of a binding proposal to be submitted by the court’s Aug. 10, 2009, deadline. “We are excited about the opportunity to submit a bid,” said Gary Kelly, Southwest’s Chairman of the Board, President, and CEO.  “We see a strong fit between our Company cultures, a mutual commitment to high quality Customer Service, and similar entrepreneurial roots.” A successful acquisition of Frontier Airlines will allow Southwest to expand its network with its legendary low fares, add jobs into Southwest, and boost competition in Denver and other cities. Southwest is a qualified investor and is still preparing its proposal; therefore, it is premature to comment on the specifics at this point.   To view a Q&A with a Southwest Airlines Executive Vice President Corporate Services and Corporate Secretary Ron Ricks, please visit: http://www.blogsouthwest.com/blog/southwest-bids-frontier-airlines.       Frontier filed for bankruptcy court protection in April 2008.  On June 22, 2009, Republic Airways submitted a bid to purchase Frontier for $108.8 million.   After 38 years of service, Southwest Airlines offers a reliable product with exemplary Customer Service. Southwest Airlines is the most productive airline in the sky and offers Customers a comfortable traveling experience with all premium leather seats and plenty of legroom.  Southwest recently updated its gate areas and improved its boarding procedure to make flying Southwest Airlines even more convenient and simple. Southwest Airlines currently serves 66 cities in 33 states, and announced service to Boston Logan, which begins Aug. 16, 2009, and to Milwaukee, which begins Nov. 1, 2009. Southwest currently operates more than 3,300 flights a day and has more than 35,000 Employees systemwide. This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.  Specific forward-looking statements relate to the Company’s interest in acquiring Frontier Airlines. These forward-looking statements are based on the Company's current information, intent, expectations, and projections and are not guarantees of future actions or performance. These statements involve risks, uncertainties, assumptions, and other factors that are difficult to predict and that could cause actual results to vary materially from those expressed in or indicated by them. Factors include, among others, (i) the Company’s ability to receive all necessary approvals, including any necessary governmental or regulatory approvals and the approval of the Company’s Board of Directors; (ii) results of the Company’s due diligence; (iii) changes to the Company’s business plan and strategies; (iv) the Company’s being named the winning bidder in the auction process in Frontier’s bankruptcy proceeding and the Company’s ability to obtain all necessary approvals for the acquisition in Frontier’s bankruptcy proceeding, including approval by Frontier’s creditors and the bankruptcy court of Frontier’s plan of reorganization, (v) the Company's ability to timely and effectively prioritize its revenue and cost reduction initiatives; and (vi) other factors, as described in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the detailed factors discussed under the heading "Risk Factors" in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008. Therefore, the Company can give no assurance that any bid it submits to acquire Frontier will be successful or that any subsequent acquisition will be completed. www.southwest.com Media Please Contact:   Public Relations at 214/792-4847 ... View more

Dave Williams shares his experience with Southwest Airlines' Proactive Customer Service Communications: http://truesimple.typepad.com/blog/2009/07/southwest-airlines-proactive-communications.html ... View more

Few things are more frustrating for travelers than airline baggage fees and policies, especially if you are transporting outdoor equipment or sports gear. Many airlines have started charging fees for baggage in order to make extra money. The fees and rules tend to be confusing and differ from airline to airline. To be fair, many of the restrictions associated with transporting unusual items are directly related to safety and to Transportation Security Administration (TSA) rules. Today’s feature spotlights one of the more popular airlines operating out of Sacramento, Southwest Airlines. to learn more, visit: http://www.examiner.com/x-8808-Sacramento-Outdoor-Travel-Examiner~y2009m7d27-Travel-101--Southwest-Airlines-baggage-policies-for-outdoor-equipment-and-sports-gear ... View more

By Pink Rivera / El Paso Times EL PASO -- The El Paso Zoo's newest resident is no bigger than 5 inches, but it can shoot blood out of its eye. It's classified as a threatened species in Texas, even though it is the state's official lizard. Meet the the horny toad, or horned frog, officially known as the Texas horned lizard. Its status as a threatened reptile means that if anyone attempts to sell it or keep it as a pet, the person would be fined at least $500, said Griselda Martinez, the El Paso Zoo collections supervisor. to read more, visit: http://www.elpasotimes.com/news/ci_12916341?source=rss/news/ci_12916341?source=rss ... View more

Tonight on NBC, families participate in a challenge onboard a Southwest Airlines aircraft, getting the aircraft ready for takeoff in a short amount of time. The winning family receives a trip on Southwest Airlines to a relaxing resort spa. Tune in to your NBC affiliate to watch the Southwest integration!  ... View more

As Southwest Airlines grew into a national powerhouse, Ginger Hardage directed how the low-fare carrier told its story. A year ago, the airline's longtime communications director took on the additional duty of protecting Southwest's gung-ho, people-first culture. Hardage told a Greater Tampa Chamber of Commerce lunch crowd Thursday how the airline built its brand based on the internal culture. She talked with the Times about challenges at Southwest, checked bag fees and how passengers feel about cell phones on planes. to read more, visit: http://www.tampabay.com/news/business/airlines/article1021142.ece ... View more

It’s no secret. I love food. And I’m happy I get to partake in it three times a day (and sometimes more). I also love traveling, so working for Southwest Airlines just puts the cherry on top of my sundae of a job. Since I started at Southwest, I think I’ve flown more in eight months than I have in my combined 23 years before. I’ve also seen a heckuva lot of airports. I decided to make it my mission to dedicate a large amount of time and research to finding the best places to eat at each airport that Southwest Airlines serves. I can’t tell you when I'll travel to Boise, Providence, or Harlingen, but good golly, I will make an excuse to go there. It’s quite an undertaking, and one I take very seriously. There’s no telling how long it will take me to visit all 66 cities (and counting) but I remain steadfastly committed to my goal. My first in a series I like to call "Food Flight!" begins in Phoenix’s Sky Harbor: a bright, sunny airport in Arizona that’s often a stop on my way to visit friends in the Northwest. In it lives the famous Paradise Bakery—which has a bit of a cult following. People rave about the pastries, the sandwiches, the iced tea—pretty much everything they offer is solid gold and a must for carb addicts. The only downside? They’re outside of security, so be sure to allow yourself plenty of time if you want to partake in the pastry goodness. What do I recommend? Oh goodness, you can’t really go wrong here. Their sandwiches are absolutely delicious, but the two that stand out are the Turkey Cranberry served on their Paradise Molasses bread, and their famous Chicken Walnut salad (try it on sourdough!) All sandwiches also come with a freshly-baked chocolate chip cookie…does it get any better than that? I think not. However, if you want to go over the top (and who doesn’t?) I recommend one of the fruit-filled croissants. I had the blueberry, and it was mighty tasty. To cap it all off, try their flavored iced teas. The mango was simply divine. So for freshly-baked pastries, breads, sandwiches, and soups that will make you swoon, head to Paradise. The name pretty much says it all. Find it at: Sky Harbor Airport - Terminal 2,3, and 4 Phoenix, AZ Phone: (602) 681-0909 Fax: (602) 681-0910 Hours: Every day; 24 hours; Limited menu 12am-5am Free Wi-Fi available ... View more

To see a clip of Christi Day being interviewed about @southwestair and daily deals in DFW, visit: http://cbs11tv.com/video/?id=44577@ktvt.dayport.com       ... View more

Airline Business magazine awarded Southwest Airlines with a 2009 Airline Strategy Award in the Finance category.  CFO Laura Wright accepted the award on Southwest’s behalf at a recent ceremony in London.  This award was designed to recognize excellence in financial Leadership and establishing a successful financial future. Airline Business recognized Laura for setting out a financial strategy and seeing it through to success.  The judges of the awards commented that, “Southwest has done good things on their balance sheet and moved quickly in a tough market to build and preserve cash, which positions the airline to compete more effectively. They are consistently a leader in strategic investing.” to learn more, visit: http://www.strategyawards.com/ ... View more

Southwest Airlines announced today some exciting new features on its self-service kiosks!  Customers will now be given the opportunity to modify their itinerary on the day of travel at any lobby kiosk.  They will also have the option of choosing a new flight or adding themselves to the stand-by list for a different flight.  In addition, for full-fare unrestricted reservations, Customers will have the chance to upgrade to Business Select, which includes priority boarding, extra Rapid Rewards credits, access to the "Fly By" priority security lane at participating airports, and an onboard drink.  We also now accept credit cards at our kiosks! Any fare difference may be paid at the kiosk before completing the transaction.  These new functions will make our Customer's flight preparations easier and more convenient than ever before. Details on the Change: Our lobby kiosks will now allow you to: Modify your itinerary on the day of travel. Choose a new flight or add yourself to the stand-by list for a different flight.   All kiosk locations will now allow you to: Upgrade to Business Select™ (when available, for full-fare unrestricted reservations).  Pay for any fare difference at the kiosk before completing your transaction. We hope Customers agree that these new functions will make their flight preparations easier and more convenient than ever before. ... View more

Look for a piece about :15 minutes in that will show how Southwest Airlines uses Twitter with great acclaim--the piece will profile the voice of @southwestair: Christi Day. ... View more

Environmental Stewardship is a responsibility Southwest takes seriously, and efficient operations are the hallmark of our Company and the foundation of our environmental commitment.  Efficiency means effective use of resources (energy, people, and materials), and we strive to be as productive as possible while minimizing waste and protecting the Earth.   Over the decades, Southwest has been at the forefront of such efficiencies as paperless tickets, quick turnarounds, installation of winglets, and, more recently, the installation of fleetwide advanced avionics and engine washing.  This focus on efficiency not only makes good business sense, it also is the right thing to do.   To find out how Southwest Airlines is Doing the Right Thing for Our Planet, visit www.southwest.com/cares ... View more