Southwest Airlines Community

By Scott Hepburn Every once in a while, social media works… If you haven’t heard about Arik Hanson’s Tweetathon on behalf of Sonny Gill and I, check out the post that started it all, then see what happened on Twitter. Sonny wrote an awesome “Thank You,” too. The Tweetathon generated dozens of job leads, consulting leads, freelance leads and new contacts for Sonny and I. It also generated some valuable momentum. Now I have more good news: Sonny and I, along with Southwest Airlines, are sending Arik to BlogPotomac. To read more, visit: http://mediaemerging.com/2009/04/21/how-twitter-helped-reward-a-selfless-act/ ... View more

Innovating Today for a Greener Tomorrow Complex economic issues and serious environmental concerns surround the energy consumption of enterprise computing and data centers. Many companies are continuously working to improve the efficiency of their data centers by implementing best practices and utilizing lean, clean, and green computing modalities to bring costs and energy consumption down. In order to highlight the important achievements of these companies, the Uptime Institute has created The Global Green 100 List. The purpose of the list is to identify and provide global recognition for those companies that demonstrate an integral commitment to and progress toward reducing their energy consumption and carbon footprint. To see the entire list, visit: http://uptimeinstitute.org/content/view/247/204/ ... View more

The Clark County Department of Aviation will reopen one of McCarran International Airport‘s four runways next week, several days before its previously announced May 1 return to service. Runway 25L/7R and the adjacent taxiway Alpha have been closed to aircraft since Nov. 1 so contractors could replace their former asphalt surfaces with more-durable concrete and asphalt surfacing. The runway’s actual reopening date will be decided early next week based on the progress of some final preparations by McCarran’s Airside Operations division. “We’ve said all along this work would be finished well before the start of the summer travel season,” said Randall H. Walker, director of the Clark County Department of Aviation. “Despite some wet and windy weather, and even a significant December snowstorm, the team worked night and day to get this job done on time.” Las Vegas Paving served as the project’s primary contractor. Workers began preparing the site in August, three months before the runway was closed to air traffic. This advance work included building a temporary concrete plant; planning for job site egress and ingress; and erecting enough temporary fencing to separate the nearly 10,500–foot-long runway from other active runways and taxiways close to the work site. Since November, approximately 144,000 cubic yards of asphalt were demolished and replaced with 200,000 cubic yards of concrete and another 57,500 cubic yards of new asphalt. This was equivalent to the amount of material needed to construct a 5-foot-wide sidewalk spanning nearly 790 miles, greater than the distance between Las Vegas and Portland, Ore. Workers also replaced nearly 350,000 linear feet of conduit used to power and control portions of McCarran’s airfield lighting system. The runway project also featured a notable effort to recycle all of the asphalt, non-reinforced concrete, electrical cable and scrap metal removed from the work site. The asphalt was re-used at other construction sites at McCarran and elsewhere in the valley, while the demolished concrete was crushed and processed offsite for use as sub-base material in other construction projects. The Federal Aviation Administration and McCarran met regularly while the runway was closed to discuss how to maximize the use of McCarran’s three other runways and maintain a steady flow of flights both in and out of Las Vegas. The FAA also contributed $30.9 million toward the project’s costs; the remainder was financed through airport business operations, not local tax dollars.   CONTACT: Chris Jones Public Information Administrator (702) 261-5290 ... View more

Are you obsessed with Fantasy Baseball? Like to play the penny slots? Perhaps you get fired up by a simple wager at work involving the candy machine and spare change? Here at Southwest, we like to fly by the seat of our pants. That’s why we’re planning a unique sale in four “secret” destinations.     On Friday, April 24th, we’ll kick off this top-secret sale. Why? Because we can! And because we know our Customers out there are getting spring fever and feeling the itch to travel.    Check our home page at southwest.com anytime during the promotion, or sign up for our Click ’n Save E-mail Updates to find out what destination will be revealed first.     But wait, there’s more. Because we LUV our Customers so much, we want to give you an opportunity to win TWO ROUNDTRIP TICKETS on Southwest Airlines by guessing which destinations we will reveal.    Enter to win in 2 easy-peasy steps:       1. Visit www.southwest.com/dailydeal and review the hints 2. Correctly guess two out of four destinations by April 23, 2009, 11:59 PM  CST If you guess two out of four correctly, you’ll be entered in a drawing to win two roundtrip Southwest Airlines tickets. (Only one entry per person, please, but you can take a friend if you win!)  See official rules.     Be sure to visit www.southwest.com/dailydeal on April 24 th , 25 th , 26 th , and 27 th to see what destinations are revealed each day.  That’s it for now! Put your guessing hat on, invite your friends, and get ready to be surprised… ... View more

After Southwest Airlines reported on Thursday a $20 million loss, one Wall Street analyst suggested a quick fix: start charging for checked bags as most of its competitors do. "Why not put those in place?" asked Morgan Stanley airline analyst William Greene, noting that the extra revenue from fees would have likely given Southwest a profit for the quarter. Southwest CEO Gary Kelly had a simple answer sure to please the airline's customers: "We think the strategy we have is the right one." To read more, visit: http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/business/articles/2009/04/17/20090417biz-southwest0417.html OAS_AD('ArticleFlex_1') ... View more

The Massachusetts Port Authority yesterday approved a $30 million project to consolidate security checkpoints in Terminal C at Logan International Airport - a move that officials say could help travelers more quickly connect to other flights and eliminate the need for additional screening. To read more, visit: http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2009/04/17/redesign_could_cut_wait_times_at_logan/ ... View more

I’ve always thought our Southwest Flight Attendants were undercover superheroes, and after chatting with Christie Volkmer of The Amazing Race, I’ve realized it’s true—she is truly one tough cookie. Together with fellow Flight Attendant Jodi Wincheski, they traveled throughout Germany, Romania, Russia, Siberia, and India—before elimination on the fifth episode due to bad directions and a befuddled cab driver. Christie and Jodi are both based in Houston, and met through Southwest six years ago. Funnily enough, though they’re buddies in real life, Christie first wanted to apply for the show with her husband. But there was just one problem: he wasn’t a U.S. citizen. Luckily, Jodi jumped on the bandwagon, and off they went to compete in the adventure of a lifetime. So how did being a Southwest Flight Attendant prepare her for the arduous journey of The Amazing Race? Christie credits her communication skills: "You meet all kinds of people every day when you fly. Every age, every race, every creed. The other teams were so surprised that Jodi and I weren’t afraid to go up to strangers and ask questions, but Southwest encourages you to always interact and have FUN with your Customers." When she’s not giving exclusive interviews to our blog, Christie can be found in Choctaw, Oklahoma, with her husband of almost two years and a multitude of animals. If there’s any seasoned traveler you should listen to, it’s a Southwest Flight Attendant. Check out Christie’s Travel Guide post on one of her favorite vacation spots: Lake Tahoe. And keep your eyes peeled the next time you fly…you might just see a superstar in your midst. To read an in-depth interview with both Christie and Jodi, check out this link. If you’d like a recap of our Flight Attendant’s performance throughout The Amazing Race, peruse all of Hollye Chacon’s posts on our blog! ... View more

Southwest Airlines (NYSE:LUV) today reported a first quarter 2009 net loss of $91 million, or $.12 loss per diluted share, compared to net income of $34 million, or $.05 per diluted share, for first quarter 2008.   First quarter 2009 results included special charges totaling $71 million (net), relating to non-cash, mark-to-market and other items associated with a portion of the Company’s fuel hedge portfolio.   Refer to the reconciliation in the accompanying tables for further information regarding special items.   Excluding special items, first quarter 2009 net loss was $20 million, or $.03 loss per diluted share, compared to net income of $43 million, or $.06 per diluted share, in first quarter 2008.  The first quarter 2009 results, excluding special items, of $.03 loss per diluted share compares to Thomson's First Call mean estimate of $.01 loss per diluted share.   Operating loss for first quarter 2009 was $50 million compared to operating income of $88 million in first quarter 2008.  Excluding special items, operating income was $31 million in first quarter 2009 compared to $99 million for the same period last year.           First Quarter 2009 Financial Highlights: Operating income, excluding special items, of $31 million Net loss, excluding special items, of $20 million Net loss per diluted share, excluding special items, of $.03 Cash flow from operations of $286 million Raised $173 million through aircraft financing activities Record first quarter load factor       Gary C. Kelly, CEO, stated: “Our first quarter 2009 financial results are disappointing, but not surprising given the current economic environment.   We face the toughest revenue environment in our history.  A rapid weakening in passenger demand during first quarter, particularly among business travelers, led to our first quarter net loss.  Although competitively strong and financially resilient, we are not immune to the challenges the worldwide recession is having on air travel.   “Still, I am very proud of the efforts of our People.  Our operations and Customer Service delivery continues to be outstanding.  Our revenue trends continue to outperform our U.S. competitors. These revenue results demonstrate the strength of our Low Fare brand, the benefits of our aggressive flight schedule optimization, and the effectiveness of our Marketing and Revenue Management efforts.  “We have acted to reduce our spending, but also maintain our intense focus on previously announced initiatives to grow revenues.  We plan to follow through with the investment in and construction of these strategic revenue initiatives that we believe are vital to our future.  However, overall, we have significantly reduced planned capital spending by approximately $1.4 billion for 2009 and 2010 combined by deferring aircraft deliveries, accelerating aircraft retirements, and suspending plans to grow our capacity.  As announced to our Employees earlier this morning, we intend to reduce and align headcount to current capacity needs by offering a systemwide voluntary early-out program.   Virtually all Employees are eligible under the early-out program and must make their election to participate by June 19, 2009.   We also have a hiring freeze in place and have frozen pay for our officers and senior management.  While our balance sheet is strong, we believe these actions, along with our previous decision to suspend growth plans, and our ongoing efforts to bolster our cash reserves, will enable us to weather the current financial storm and remain strong.   “Our recent promotions and discounting activities have been successful in stimulating traffic.  Our first quarter 2009 load factor of 69.9 percent was a record first quarter performance, despite the impact of Easter shifting to April this year versus March last year.  We continue to enhance our strong brand, Customer Experience, and traffic through our No Hidden Fees campaign.  However, yields were down 2.8 percent from a year ago, resulting in a unit revenue decline of 2.9 percent.  Although our April results should benefit from the timing of the Easter holiday, we currently expect another year-over-year decline in our second quarter 2009 operating unit revenues, based on revenue and booking trends thus far.   “We benefited from significantly lower year-over-year economic jet fuel costs in first quarter 2009.  Even with $65 million in unfavorable cash settlements from derivative contracts, our first quarter 2009 economic jet fuel costs decreased 16.2 percent to $1.76 per gallon.   With oil prices rising, we have begun to rebuild our 2009 and 2010 hedge positions, using purchased call options, to provide protection against significant fuel price spikes.  These new positions present no additional exposure to cash collateral requirements.  Furthermore, we have modified our major fuel hedge counterparty agreements to allow us to use collateral other than cash to limit our cash collateral exposure to comfortable levels.  Based on our second quarter derivative position and market energy prices as of April 14, 2009, we currently anticipate our second quarter 2009 economic jet fuel costs, including taxes, to be in line with first quarter 2009 (or the $1.75 per gallon range).” The Company has derivative contracts in place for approximately 50 percent of its second quarter 2009 estimated fuel consumption, capped at a weighted average crude-equivalent price of approximately $66 per barrel; approximately 40 percent for the remainder of 2009 capped at a weighted average crude-equivalent price of approximately $71 per barrel; and approximately 30 percent in 2010 capped at a weighted average crude-equivalent price of approximately $77 per barrel.  The Company has modest fuel hedge positions in 2011 through 2013.  The current market value (as of April 14, 2009) of its net fuel derivative contracts for 2009 through 2013 reflects a net liability of approximately $950 million.                Gary Kelly stated, “Our plans to reduce staffing via our voluntary early-out program will help mitigate cost pressures next year.  Our first quarter 2009 unit costs, excluding fuel, increased 8.4 percent over last year, which was in line with our expectations.  We were very pleased to have reached tentative agreements with our Flight Attendants and Pilots during the quarter.  In addition, our Ramp, Operations, Provisioning, and Freight Agents and our Mechanics voted to ratify their tentative agreements.  These Employees demonstrated their commitment to maintain Southwest's competitive position while enabling the Company to sustain its financial strength in an increasingly tough economy.  Based on these agreements and current cost trends, we expect our second quarter 2009 unit costs, excluding fuel, to be in line with first quarter 2009.   “Presently, we still plan to accept 13 new Boeing 737-700s in 2009, and retire 15 aircraft by the end of the year.  Through continued focus on maximizing the efficiency and profitability of each published flight schedule, we have the ability to grow in exciting new and developing markets, such as Denver , Minneapolis-St. Paul, New York LaGuardia, and Boston Logan, while reducing our available seat miles, currently estimated to decline in the five percent range versus 2008.”             The Company previously announced its service from New York LaGuardia airport to begin with five flights to Chicago Midway and three flights to Baltimore/Washington on June 28, 2009; and its Boston Logan service to begin on August 16, 2009 with five flights to both Chicago Midway and Baltimore/Washington.             For the thirteenth year in a row, Fortune magazine recognized Southwest Airlines in its annual survey of corporate reputations.  Among all industries, Southwest Airlines was named the seventh most admired Company in the World, making it the only U.S. airline to make the list of the World's Top 50 Most Admired Companies.  Institutional Investor magazine once again named Southwest Airlines as America ’s Most Shareholder-Friendly Airline in its survey of investors and analysts.  Finally, Southwest Airlines Cargo was recently named “Airline of the Year” by the Express Delivery & Logistics Association, for the fifth consecutive year in a row, honoring its excellence in air cargo delivery service. Southwest will discuss its first quarter 2009 results on a conference call at 11:30 a.m. Eastern Time today.  A live broadcast of the conference call will be available at southwest.com.   Operating Results Total operating revenues for first quarter 2009 decreased 6.8 percent to $2.4 billion, compared to $2.5 billion for first quarter 2008.  Total first quarter 2009 operating expenses were $2.4 billion, in line with first quarter 2008.               “Other expenses” were $57 million for first quarter 2009, compared to $51 million for first quarter 2008.   In both periods, “other losses” included unrealized gains/losses associated with our fuel hedging program.  The cost of the hedging program (which includes the premium costs of derivative contracts) of $32 million in first quarter 2009 and $14 million in first quarter 2008 is also included in "other (gains) losses.”  First quarter 2009 interest expense increased 57.1 percent over first quarter 2008 due to financing transactions the Company completed in second and fourth quarter 2008.  Interest income decreased versus first quarter 2008 due to lower market interest rates and lower rates earned from more conservative investments.  Lower interest rates coupled with lower Boeing aircraft progress payments also generated less capitalized interest in first quarter 2009 compared to the same period last year.  The first quarter 2009 tax rate was impacted by the Company’s current projections for financial results for the year and the related impact that permanent tax differences have on these projections. The first quarter 2008 income tax rate of approximately 9 percent was primarily the result of a decrease in deferred tax liabilities of approximately $12 million as a result of a January 2008 reversal of an August 2007 tax increase under a State of Illinois income tax law. Net cash provided by operations for first quarter 2009 was $286 million, which was net of a $60 million increase in cash posted as collateral to a fuel hedge counterparty since December 31, 2008.  First quarter 2009 capital expenditures were $85 million.   The Company’s planned capital expenditures are still estimated to be in the $750 million range for 2009 and in the $800 to $900 million range for 2010. In its continued effort to structure counterparty agreements to minimize liquidity exposure, the Company replaced an existing fuel hedging agreement with a major fuel hedge counterparty, effective April 8, 2009.  Previously, Southwest became obligated to post cash or letters of credit as security to this counterparty upon a noninvestment grade credit rating.  Under the new agreement, the Company posts cash as collateral for obligations in amounts of up to $125 million.  For amounts between $125 million and $625 million, the Company’s obligation is satisfied by its pledge of 29 Boeing 737-700 aircraft (or cash or letters of credit in lieu of the pledged aircraft).  For amounts above $625 million, the Company may post cash and/or letters of credit.   This agreement is in addition to the previously announced amendment to another major counterparty agreement that became effective January 1, 2009.  As of April 14, 2009, the Company had posted a total of $425 million in cash collateral and approximately $350 million in aircraft collateral to its fuel hedge counterparties.  During the first quarter 2009, the Company closed on the second five aircraft tranche of the sale and leaseback transaction entered into at the end of 2008 for ten of the Company’s Boeing 737-700 aircraft.  Including the $173 million in proceeds from this transaction and net of the $300 million the Company posted in cash collateral with a counterparty at March 31, 2009, the Company ended the quarter with $2.1 billion in unrestricted cash and short-term investments.  The Company had posted $240 million in cash collateral with a counterparty at December 31, 2008.  In addition, the Company has $200 million of borrowing availability remaining on its $600 million unsecured revolving credit line.   Following first quarter 2009, the Company executed and closed the first tranche of what is expected to be a two tranche sale and leaseback transaction for six of the Company's Boeing 737-700 aircraft.  The first three aircraft tranche closed on April 2, 2009 for approximately $105 million and the second tranche is expected to be executed and closed in second quarter 2009 with similar terms and proceeds.                    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 include, without limitation, statements relating to (i) the Company’s strategic initiatives and related expectations, (ii) its growth plans and expectations, and (iii) its expectations regarding future results of operations. These forward-looking statements are based on the Company's current intent, expectations, and projections and are not guarantees of future 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) continued unfavorable economic conditions, which could continue to impact the demand for air travel and the Company’s ability to adjust fares; (ii) the price and availability of aircraft fuel and any changes to the Company’s fuel hedging strategies and positions; (iii) the Company's ability to timely and effectively prioritize its revenue and cost reduction initiatives and its related ability to timely implement, transition, and maintain the necessary information technology systems and infrastructure to support these initiatives; (iv) competitor capacity and load factors; and (v) 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. ... 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Good news for Customers who would rather not wait on hold to talk to a Customer Representative—today CS&S (Customer Support & Services) implemented a new system, Virtual Queuing, to all Centers that allows Customers to speak to a Customer Representative without actually remaining on hold or even on the phone. Virtual Queuing gives Customers the option of having an automated process call them back as their call comes up in the order it was received and connect them with a Customer Representative.  If the Customer chooses this option, they just enter the telephone number where they can be reached and record their name, and then they can hang up and continue on with their day until Virtual Queuing calls them back. Once the call comes up as “next” in the call queue, the Customer telephone number is dialed and after a few prompts, the Customer is quickly connected to a live person.  If you live in the Dallas area, KDAF-TV/The 33 News will mention it tonight at 9! ... View more

by Kate Schneider A US airline has shown off some talented employees, with two Southwest Airlines flight attendants being filmed singing to passengers in the last month. The latest flight attendant to share her talent with stunned airline passengers is a woman only identified as “Lynda the singing Southwest Airline flight attendant” in a video uploaded to YouTube. Lynda took over the plane’s speakers while she sang the classic song “It had to be you” which was performed by Priscilla Lane in the 1939 film The Roaring Twenties, and was later covered by Diane Keaton, Barbara Streisland, John Travolta and Billie Holiday, among other famous singers. to see Lynda in action, visit: http://www.news.com.au/travel/story/0,28318,25333349-5014090,00.html ... View more

by Jerome Chandler Greener airplanes are great, but while most folks focus on the promising development of bio-fuels such as algae, there's more than one way get green. Consider the idea of flying from Point A to Point B more directly. The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) is. So too are some major airlines. The new green tool is called Performance-based Navigation, or PBN, and it marks a major shift. Traditionally, aircraft navigate using ground-based electronics: radar, beacons, and such. Performance-based Navigation is pegged to satellites. The upshot: shorter, more precise passage between airports. That cuts fuel burn, and that reduces CO2. Put succinctly, PBN will help reduce airport and airspace congestion, conserve fuel, and protect the environment, asserts ICAO President Roberto Kobeh Gonzlez. to read more, visit: http://www.examiner.com/x-4696-AirlinesAirport-Examiner~y2009m4d13-Airline-flights-get-greener--the-satellite-solution ... View more

"With the sudden reversal of the global economy, businesses are struggling not only with shrinking income and budgets, but also with seismic shifts that are upending entire industries, from autos and retail to banking and entertainment." To see the complete ranking, please visit: http://bwnt.businessweek.com/interactive_reports/innovative_50_2009/?chan=magazine+channel_in%3A+inside+innovation ... View more

By Paul Makishima, Boston Globe April 14, 2009 Southwest Airlines, which in February said it would launch service from Logan International Airport in Boston by the fall, yesterday detailed its plans, saying it will offer five daily nonstop flights each to Chicago Midway Airport and Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport, starting Aug. 16. "We are very enthusiastic and optimistic about Boston Logan," said Bob Jordan, Southwest's executive vice president of strategy and planning. "We're starting very conservative, but I wouldn't be surprised to see us adding flights eventually." To read more, visit: http://www.boston.com/business/articles/2009/04/14/southwest_will_start_logan_run_in_august/ ... View more

Carrier Will Operate Ten Daily Nonstop Flights to Two Destinations: Chicago Midway and Baltimore/Washington International Beginning August 16, 2009     DALLAS —April 14, 2009—Southwest Airlines is touching down in Beantown! Southwest Airlines today announced the carrier's low fares and flight schedule from Boston Logan International (BOS) beginning on August 16, 2009. The airline will begin service with ten daily nonstop flights: five to Chicago Midway and five to Baltimore/Washington International. Southwest is offering these new flights with fares as low as $89 one-way for Chicago and $49 one-way for Baltimore/Washington (see fare rules below). To view a complete list of Southwest’s flights from Boston Logan, visit: www.southwest.com             "Today’s announcement allows us to fully serve the Boston area,” said Bob Jordan, Southwest’s Executive Vice President of Strategy and Planning. “Our new Boston Logan service will complement our current presence at T. F. Green Airport in Providence and Manchester-Boston Regional Airport in Manchester , New Hampshire . People in the central Boston area have been asking for Southwest Airlines service for many years, and we can't wait to introduce them to our legendary Customer Service, as well as our low fares, ontime flights, and no hidden fees."   As part of its expanded New England service, Providence and Manchester Customers can fly to Chicago Midway and Baltimore/Washington International for the same fares offered for the new Boston Logan service.   In addition to the ten daily nonstop flights to Chicago Midway and Baltimore/Washington International, Southwest Airlines’ new service out of Boston Logan will offer direct or connecting service to 48 other destinations, including: Las Vegas, Phoenix, Denver, Los Angeles, Houston, and San Francisco, just to name a few. To view all of Southwest’s destinations from Boston Logan visit  http://gallery.swamedia.com/photos/value=open/type=jpg. Southwest Airlines will operate from gates E1A and E1B in Terminal E at Logan , and will have about 40 full-time Employees.   "Southwest's much anticipated arrival at Boston Logan will benefit the traveling public with great service and even greater fares," said Edward C. Freni, Director Aviation for the Massachusetts Port Authority. "Southwest's August landing leaves no doubt that Logan is the choice for both cost conscious leisure and business travelers without compromising service. Chicago Midway and Baltimore/Washington are two important markets for New Englanders."   “We are thrilled to welcome Southwest Airlines to Boston Logan. Southwest Airlines’ strong reputation for both quality Customer Service and competitive pricing will generate more business and leisure travel to Boston ,” said Patrick B. Moscaritolo, President and CEO, Greater Boston Convention & Visitors Bureau.   When shopping for Southwest online, it’s important to know that Southwest Airlines’ low fares are available only at www.southwest.com. Not only will Customers find Southwest’s great online rates, but the site also hosts Southwest’s Travel Guide where Customers can check out Boston travel tips posted by those who frequent the New England area. For an insider’s look into the new Boston Service, a long-time Southwest Employee and native Bostonian writes about her “wicked awesome” observations on growing up in this particular Northern town on Southwest’s blog—Nuts About Southwest.  To view her post, visit:  http://www.blogsouthwest.com/blog/a-bostonians-guide-english-language.    After nearly 38 years of service, Southwest Airlines, the nation's leading low-fare carrier, continues to stand above other airlines -- offering a reliable product with exemplary Customer Service and no hidden fees. 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. Southwest Airlines (NYSE: LUV), the nation's largest carrier in terms of domestic passengers enplaned, currently serves 65 cities in 33 states. Based in Dallas , Southwest currently operates more than 3,300 flights a day and has more than 35,000 Employees systemwide.   Fare Rules The sale fares between Chicago Midway and BOS and Baltimore/Washington International and BOS are available on southwest.com or swabiz.com. Customers must purchase from April 14 through April 20, 2009, and before 11:59 pm (PDT) for travel August 17 – October 29, 2009. Travel is valid every day except Friday and Sunday. Fares do not include federal excise tax of $3.60 per take off and landing. Fares do not include airport-assessed passenger facility charges (PFC) of up to $9.00 and government-imposed September 11th Security Fee of up to $5.00 one-way. Seats are limited.  Fares may vary by flight and day of week and won't be available on some flights that operate during very busy travel times and holiday periods. Fares are available for one-way travel. Fares may be combined with other combinable fares. Fares are not combinable with Senior Fares. When combining fares, all rules and restrictions apply. Fares are nonrefundable but may be applied toward the purchase of future travel on Southwest Airlines. Fares are not available through Group Desk. Any change in itinerary may result in an increase in fare. Standby travel requires an upgrade to the Anytime fare. Fares are subject to change until ticketed. ... View more

Southwest's CEO Gary Kelly has been named one of America's Best CEOs by Institutional Investor magazine. Gary ranked number one in the consumer section and was followed by Lawrence Kellner of Continental Airlines. To read more, visit: http://www.iimagazine.com/Rankings/rankingsCorpCEOAmerica09.aspx?src=http://www.iimagazinerankings.com/rankingscorpCEOamerica09/index.asp ... View more

By Matt Phillips Could Twitter serve as an effective and efficient salve to fliers frustrated by airline customer service? Airlines (along with many other corporations) are increasingly embracing the online service, which allows users to broadcast brief 140-character messages on the web, as a means to monitor complaints and respond to consumer concerns. To read more, visit: http://blogs.wsj.com/middleseat/2009/04/03/airline-customer-service-can-twitter-fix-it/ ... View more

by Terry Maxon U.S. carriers in 2009 recorded their best February on-time performance in seven years, with 82.6 percent of flights arriving within 14 minutes of schedule, the U.S. Department of Transportation said. The February numbers were the highest since 2002 when airlines said 84.7 percent of their flights arrived on schedule or with 14 minutes. Leading the group was Hawaiian Airlines Inc. with 91.2 percent, followed by Southwest Airlines Co. at 88.3 percent. At the bottom was Alaska Airlines Inc. at 76.3 percent. To read more, visit: http://aviationblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2009/04/airlines-improve-on-time-perfo.html ... View more

Start spreading the news, Southwest Airlines is starting in June! Southwest Airlines will be touching down in the Big Apple on June 28, 2009. The Dallas-based airline will offer a total of eight daily nonstop departures—five daily nonstop flights between Chicago Midway and LaGuardia and three daily nonstop departures between Baltimore/Washington and LaGuardia.  Southwest is offering these new flights with fares as low as $89 one-way for Chicago flights and $49 one-way for Baltimore/Washington flights with a 14-day advance purchase (see fare rules below). To view a complete list of Southwest’s flights from LaGuardia, visit: www.southwest.com "Southwest Airlines brings to the New York market our unmatched record in Customer Service, our no hidden fees policy, and great flight service to two of our most convenient airports—Chicago Midway and Baltimore/Washington,” said Gary Kelly, Southwest Airlines Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer.  “Customers in both Chicago and the DC area now have a new low fare choice when planning trips into LaGuardia.” "New York City has always and will continue to succeed because we offer the people who come here for business or vacations things they just can't get anywhere else,” said Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg.  “As families and businesses weigh every travel decision carefully, Southwest's arrival at LaGuardia isn't just a boon for New Yorkers - it makes it a lot easier for people around the country to access New York 's unparalled ideas, energy, and entrepreneurism." In addition to the eight daily nonstop flights, Southwest Airlines will offer direct or connecting service to more than 45 destinations from New York City, including: Las Vegas, Denver, Los Angeles, Seattle, and San Diego, just to name a few. To view all of Southwest’s destinations from LaGuardia visit http://gallery.swamedia.com/photos/value=open/type=jpg .  Southwest Airlines will operate from Gate B4 in LaGuardia’s Central Terminal.     “For years, Customers have asked for Southwest service into New York City , and we are now connecting two of our largest markets with the nation’s largest city,” Kelly said. When shopping for Southwest online, it’s important to know that Southwest Airlines low fares are only available at www.southwest.com. Not only will Customers find Southwest’s great rates online at  www.southwest.com, but the site also hosts Southwest’s Travel Guide where Customers can check out New York City travel tips posted by those who frequent the Big Apple.  To celebrate the new service, one of Southwest Airlines’ very own New Yorkers posted her favorite things about New York on Southwest’s blog—Nuts About Southwest.  To view her insider tips, visit:  http://www.blogsouthwest.com/blog/new-york-la-guardia-my-homecoming .  To get an insider perspective on Southwest’s LaGuardia schedule check out the following post: http://www.blogsouthwest.com/blog/southwests-now-in-a-new-york-state-of-mind.  After nearly 38 years of service, Southwest Airlines, the nation’s leading low-fare carrier, continues to stand above other airlines—offering a reliable product with exemplary Customer Service, and no hidden fees.  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.  Southwest Airlines (NYSE: LUV), the nation's largest carrier in terms of domestic passengers enplaned, currently serves 65 cities (adding Boston Logan in the fall) in 33 states.  Based in Dallas , Southwest currently operates more than 3,300 flights a day and has more than 35,000 Employees systemwide.   Fare Rules The $89 one-way fare between Chicago Midway and LaGuardia, and the $49 one-way fare between Baltimore/Washington and LaGuardia, are available for purchase today (only on southwest.com  or swabiz.com through April 20, 2009, with travel June 29, 2009 through Aug. 13, 2009.  Fares are valid every day except Friday and Sunday. Blackout dates apply: July 2, 2009 through July 6, 2009. Fares are one-way and do not require an overnight stay. All tickets must be purchased 14-days in advance. When combining fares, all ticketing restrictions apply. Seats are limited. Fares may vary by day of travel and will not be available on some flights that operate during very busy travel times and holiday periods. Fares do not include a federal segment tax of up to $3.60 per takeoff and landing.  Fares do not include airport-assessed passenger facility charges (PFC) of up to $9.00 one-way and U.S. government-imposed September 11th Security Fees of up to $5.00 one-way.  Fares are subject to change until ticketed.  Tickets are nonrefundable but, if unused, may be applied toward the purchase of future travel on Southwest Airlines.  Fares are valid on Southwest-operated published, scheduled service only and are not available through the Group Desk.   ... View more

Despite growing up with a pilot for a father, ESPN NASCAR pit reporter Shannon Spake admits she has always been one to comment about bad landings on commercial airline flights – until now. “I’m never judging again,” said Spake, who flew a Southwest Airlines simulator at the airline’s Dallas headquarters Thursday prior to heading to nearby Texas Motor Speedway to work ESPN2’s telecast of Saturday’s NASCAR Nationwide Series event. To read more, visit: http://www.espnregionalmedia.com/now/?p=758 ... View more

Rapid Rewards is pleased to announce that Southwest now offers American Express Cardmembers, who are also Rapid Rewards Members, the capability to instantly transfer their Membership Rewards points into their Rapid Rewards account with the new Real-Time Point Transfer Service. Cardmembers should visit www.membershiprewards.com to find out more and to sign up for this new service. ... View more

Wanna get away? Now’s your chance to take advantage of super low fares from Southwest Airlines. The airline is offering airfares starting as low as $49 one-way only on southwest.com. These fares require 14-day advance purchase for travel by June 25, 2009. So start planning your budget getaway today! Fares are available for travel Monday through Thursday or Saturday. To get these special online fares, click here. Examples of these special fares include (see Fare Rules below): ·         $49 one-way between Philadelphia and Pittsburgh ·         $49 one-way between San Francisco and Orange County ·         $49 one-way between Phoenix and Southern California cities including Los Angeles, Burbank, Ontario, Orange County, and San Diego ·         $79 one-way between Phoenix and Northern California cities including San Francisco, San Jose, Sacramento, and Oakland ·         Travel from Denver to any Southwest Airlines destination for $49-$129 one-way (excluding Ft. Myers and West Palm Beach ) After almost 38 years of service, Southwest Airlines, the nation’s leading low-fare carrier, continues to differentiate itself from other airlines—offering a reliable product with exemplary Customer Service.  At Southwest Airlines, there are no hidden fees. Customers can check their first two bags for free (size and weight limits apply), there are no fees for a window or aisle seat, and, as always, snacks, sodas, and smiles are all complimentary! Southwest Airlines is the most productive airline in the sky and offers Customers a comfortable traveling experience.   Southwest offers all premium leather seats and plenty of legroom with a young all-Boeing 737 fleet. Southwest Airlines (NYSE: LUV) currently serves 65 cities in 33 states. Based in Dallas , Southwest currently operates more than 3,300 flights a day and has more than 35,000 Employees systemwide. FARE RULES Fares are only available on www.southwest.com. Southwest Airlines sale fares are available with a 14-day advance purchase beginning April 6, 2009, and travel must take place between April 20, 2009, and June 25, 2009.   Blackout dates apply from May 21, 2009, through May 26, 2009. Fares do not include a federal segment tax of $3.60 per takeoff and landing.  Fares do not include airport-assessed passenger facility charges (PFC) of up to $9.00 and U.S. government-imposed September 11th Security Fee of up to $5.00 one-way. Travel to/from Ft. Myers , FL or West Palm Beach , FL not included in the sale.  Seats are limited. Fares may vary by flight and day of travel and will not be available on some flights that operate during very busy travel times and holiday periods. Fares are available for one-way travel. Fares may be combined with other combinable fares.  Fares are not combinable with Senior Fares. When combining fares, all rules and restrictions apply. Fares are nonrefundable but may be applied toward the purchase of future travel on Southwest Airlines.  Fares are not available through the Group Desk.  Any change in the itinerary may result in an increase in fare. Standby travel requires an upgrade to the Anytime Fare. Fares are subject to change until ticketed. Fares are valid on published, scheduled service only.   www.southwest.com ... View more

Southwest Airlines Co. (LUV) announced today that the Company flew 6.7 billion revenue passenger miles (RPMs) in March 2009, essentially flat with March 2008.  Available seat miles (ASMs) decreased 1.5 percent to 8.6 billion from the March 2008 level of 8.7 billion.  The load factor for the month was 77.3 percent, compared to 76.5 percent for the same period last year.  For March 2009, the Company estimates passenger revenue per ASM decreased in the 10 to 11 percent range as compared to March 2008.                For first quarter 2009, Southwest flew 16.9 billion RPMs, compared to the 17.6 billion RPMs recorded for the same period in 2008, a decrease of 4.0 percent.  Available seat miles decreased 4.1 percent to 24.2 billion from the 2008 level of 25.2 billion.  The first quarter 2009 load factor was 69.9 percent, compared to 69.8 percent for the same period last year.              ... View more

Southwest Airlines announced today that the carrier’s award-winning frequent flyer program, Rapid Rewards, is offering Members a chance to earn A-List status by booking and flying just five roundtrip flights today through June 15, 2009.  Members who qualify will receive A-List status through December 31, 2009.  A-List Members are automatically checked in for their flights, most likely receiving the coveted “A” Boarding Pass , allowing them to be one of the first to board the aircraft.  A-List Members also have access to “Fly By” airport security lanes where available.  To register for this promotion, visit: www.southwest.com/alistfast.               “Granting A-List status to our Members is our way of rewarding our most frequent flyers,” said Ryan Green, Southwest’s Director of Customer Loyalty. “This promotion offers our Customers a fast track to achieving A-List status and making travel easier.”                   The A-List typically applies to Rapid Rewards Members who fly 16 roundtrips or more within a 12-month period. But for a limited time only, when Members book and fly five roundtrip flights between April 2 to June 15, 2009, Members can earn A-List status through December 31, 2009.  It is fast and easy to earn free travel through Rapid Rewards.       About Rapid Rewards Rapid Rewards Members earn credits by flying or using the frequent flyer program’s Preferred Partners.  It takes just eight roundtrips to qualify for an Award, but Members can accelerate their earnings by using the Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards Visa Signature Card, doing business with any of the airline’s other Preferred Partners, or by purchasing Southwest’s Business Select fares when flying.  Plus, once it’s earned, the Southwest Airlines Award may be transferred by the Member to anyone he/she chooses.  The Award is free but subject to the U.S. government September 11th Security Fee of up to $10 roundtrip.          ... View more

April 1, 2009 Southwest Airlines announced today that the Company has absolutely no plans to expand service between the carrier’s newest market in the Twin Cities and the Mile High City with three new daily nonstop flights.  Southwest did admit, however, that if the airline were to add service between the two cities, there is no way that fares would be as low as $89 one-way, not including fees and taxes.  To learn more about why Southwest will not be adding this new service, visit: APRIL FOOL’S!  To read a blog post, visit: http://www.blogsouthwest.com/blog/southwest-to-fly-to-st-olaf.         “Okay, okay – we just couldn’t pass up an opportunity to have fun on April Fool’s Day.  We will indeed be adding new low-fare service with three daily nonstop flights between Denver and Minneapolis/St. Paul,” said Kevin Krone, Southwest Airlines’ Vice President of Marketing, Sales, and Distribution.  “The new flights link Denver , our fastest growing city, to our newest city, Minneapolis/St. Paul.  The response we have seen to our new service in the Twin Cities has exceeded our expectations; Denver is a great destination and opens up our network to the West Coast for Minnesota travelers; and of course, Denver has been and will remain a focus city for us.”          BEGINNING MAY 26, 2009:   Three new daily nonstop roundtrips between Denver and Minneapolis/St. Paul.  Southwest Airlines launched service into Minneapolis/St. Paul on March 8, 2009, with eight daily nonstop flights to Chicago Midway, and direct or connecting flights to an additional 57 destinations.  In just a little more than three years, Southwest has grown to offer 115 daily nonstop flights to 32 destinations from Denver .       After nearly 38 years of service, Southwest Airlines continues to differentiate itself from other low fare carriers—offering a reliable product with exemplary Customer Service.  Southwest Airlines is the most productive airline in the sky and offers Customers a comfortable traveling experience.  Southwest recently updated its gate areas and improved its boarding procedure to make flying Southwest convenient and simple.  And, best of all, Southwest Airlines is famous for No Hidden Fees!  Southwest Airlines (NYSE: LUV) currently serves 65 cities in 33 states.  Based in Dallas , Southwest operates more than 3,300 flights a day and has more than 35,000 Employees systemwide.   ADDITIONAL FARE RULES  Fares are only available on www.southwest.com. Southwest Airlines sale fares are available with a 14-day advance purchase now through April 6, 2009 at 11:59 p.m. Pacific Standard Time, and travel must take place by August 14, 2009.  Blackout dates apply: May 21 through May 26, 2009.  Travel valid everyday except Friday and Sunday.  Fares do not include a federal segment tax of $3.60 per takeoff and landing.  Fares do not include airport-assessed passenger facility charges (PFC) of up to $9.00 and U.S. government-imposed September 11th Security Fee of up to $5.00 one-way.  Seats are limited. Fares may vary by day of travel and will not be available on some flights that operate during very busy travel times and holiday periods. Fares are available for one-way travel. Fares may be combined with other eligible fares. Fares are not combinable with Senior Fares. When combining fares, all rules and restrictions apply. Fares are nonrefundable by may be applied toward future travel on Southwest Airlines. Fares are not available through the Group Desk. Any change in the itinerary may result in an increase in fare. Standby travel requires an upgrade to the Anytime Fare. Fares are subject to change until ticketed. Fares are valid on published, scheduled service only.   ... View more

As March draws to a close, I’d like to point out that it is Women’s History Month—perhaps a little-known fact for most people. The celebration actually began in 1978 as “Women’s History Week,” and was later expanded to an entire month by Congress in 1987. It’s an occasion that usually just slips on by, but I wanted to take the time to highlight one of the most important women here at Southwest: Ms. Colleen Barrett, our President Emeritus. I was lucky enough to score an exclusive interview with her the other day (actually, Colleen is kind enough to meet with many Southwest Employees), and we chatted about yes, Southwest, but also San Antonio versus Dallas, Tex Mex food, and American Eskimo dogs. First some background on this unique lady: though she has that Texas spirit and fearlessness, Colleen is actually a native New Englander. Born in Bellows Falls, Vermont, she later attended school in Worcester, Massachusetts. At the tender age of 23, she found herself in San Antonio working as a legal secretary at (you guessed it) Southwest Founder Herb Kelleher’s law firm—all without even knowing how to type in the beginning. How did the meteoric partnership with Herb and her begin? Chalk it up to a chance meeting in the hallway. Colleen described her first impression of Herb as “a lost child mulling around in the hallway.” She happened to have some extra time on her hands and asked Herb if she could help him out from time to time. Thus an enduring relationship began. “Herb’s been a great mentor,” says Colleen smiling. “I’ve never worked for anyone who hasn’t been willing to teach me or let me try something new.” There’s been a lot said about women breaking through the infamous glass ceiling in the 1970s, but Colleen humbly brushes such acclaim off. She credits Southwest, not herself, for allowing her to be such an indelible part of the airline’s rise to greatness. “Southwest is real, authentic, and very transparent. You are hired to be yourself.” Herb also played a role in the airline’s take on equality in the workplace. Says Colleen, “Herb never saw gender when it came to that cookie cutter-oriented way of thinking who can do the job.” Colleen has won many prestigious awards, and there are definitely way too many to list here—among them making the list of the "100 Most Powerful Women in Business" for both Forbes and Fortune magazines. But when I asked her which ones meant the most, she had some interesting answers. First off there is the Horatio Alger award, which is given to Americans who have overcome adversity to achieve some incredible feats in their life. Colleen appreciated it for the outsider's affirmation: “someone outside Southwest Airlines thought I was doing something right.” Fun fact: the Horatio Alger Association is named after the 19th century author who wrote hundreds of “rags-to-riches” dime novels. Then there is highly esteemed Tony Jannus Award–Colleen is the first woman to ever be bestowed that honor. According to their official website, “For 45 years, the Tony Jannus Award has recognized extraordinary accomplishments in the field of commercial aviation. The award is given by the Tony Jannus Distinguished Aviation Society and is named in honor of the pilot of the first commercial airline flight, which flew from St. Petersburg to Tampa in 1914.” Herb won the award in 1993, and Southwest is the only airline to be represented twice since 1964. Finally, on a much smaller and more intimate scale, there is Colleen’s alma mater Becker College based in Worcester, Massachusetts. At the college's Leicester, Massachusetts campus, there stands Barrett Hall, a woman’s dorm, named in her honor. A self-described “sentimental slob”, Colleen’s office is covered with heart tschotkes and photographs of family, friends, and Employees. Often called the “Mom” of Southwest, Colleen is a beloved figure in the halls of Southwest. Though she officially stepped down as President of Southwest in July, you’ll find her in the office just about every day—still working hard. It’s her little acts of kindness multiplied throughout the years that make Southwest the “LUV” airline, and it's what earned her the title "The Queen of Hearts."   ... View more

Ask anyone who flies their opinion of inflight coffee. Odds are they'll wrinkle their nose in disgust and shake their head quickly. This nonverbal gesture most likely means, "Plane coffee is icky and I prefer only to drink it in extreme emergencies--like before a sudden onset of narcolepsy." Coffee at 36,000 feet has gotten a bad rap throughout the years, but it's time for things to change. After all, there has been an explosion of coffee snobbery in the past ten years, and you could say it all started in a little Northwestern city called Seattle. Thanks to a Starbucks on every corner, every American now knows what an Iced Single Vente/7 pump Peppermint/Light Ice/No whip/Mocha looks like. I’ve even had twelve-year-olds out-order me at coffee shops these days. Well coffee snobs, it looks like you might have to actually leave the ground for your next cuppa joe. Beginning May 4th, Southwest Airlines will unveil the long-awaited, newest coffee experience onboard: LIFT. Southwest wanted to enhance our Customers' experience on flights. Yes, we’ve got complimentary honey-roasted peanuts and soft drinks, but what about those 6:15am flights for our business travelers? Mr. & Mrs. T's Bloody Mary Mix is delicious, no doubt, but not necessarily appropriate at the crack of dawn. So what’s new about this LIFT coffee? Well for starters, it’s in a bigger, snazzier cup! And it’s not just any cup—the cup itself is 12% post-consumer product, and the sleeve is 99%. Southwest always makes a conscious effort to reduce their carbon footprint (or is it winglet?) As with any new beverage onboard, the Marketing and Product Development Departments at Southwest did extensive Customer research before beginning their quest for the new coffee. They discovered that 75% of our Customers drink coffee and 64% of those were less than thrilled with powdered creamer. Fear that powdery dust no more, as we are introducing liquid creamer soon as well! You might be interested to know the behind-the-scenes coffee planning has been going on for over a year. Changing coffee is no easy task. It required a fifteen-person committee made up of people from Procurement, Purchasing, Marketing, Provisioning, PR, and Inflight. Besides touring our coffee plant and watching beans get roasted, they also conducted a blind taste test of over 25 different roasts and brands. If you’ll kindly look at the image below, you’ll see that our cup is not only larger, but better-looking too.  The credit goes to Ms. Sonia Avila, Manager of (Southwest's) Graphic Design & Creative Services. Sonia was approached back in August to begin brainstorming the image and name for the new roast. Her Team really brought LIFT to life. What was her inspiration for the look ?   “Well, the word LIFT is very airy. I wanted to complement the clean design SWA is known for. Using my background in color theory, I knew I wanted to use a warm color for anything food-related. So I started working with a deep orange from our vintage color palette. Combined with the blue, it's a striking palette with an upbeat personality--just like Southwest." I myself have not had the coffee yet, but as a french press addict/former Portlandian, I take my java very seriously. In fact, I might just have to book myself a flight on May 4th to try it out—perhaps to Southwest’s Northwest destination cities (Portland and Seattle of course) for a cross-country coffee tour of the skies… Best of all, the new coffee will still be complimentary! So for all the coffee-addicted Employees and Customers out there...are you excited about LIFT?   ... View more

Southwest Airlines is pleased to announce that its Ramp, Operations, Provisioning, and Freight Agent Employees represented by the Transport Workers Union (TWU) Local 555 voted to ratify the tentative, three-year agreement both parties reached in February 2009. The new contract is active through June 30, 2011. The official Collective Bargaining Agreement will be signed in Dallas on April 7, 2009.   “We’re very pleased our hard-working Employees represented by TWU 555 voted to ratify this new contract,” said Greg Wells, Senior Vice President of Operations. “Today’s positive vote allows us to reward our Ramp, Operations, Provisioning, and Freight Agent Employees for their contributions to Southwest, but at the same time enables the Company to sustain its success in an increasingly tough economy.” The new contract delivers raises in exchange for work rule improvements and scheduling flexibility along with productivity and gained efficiencies. TWU Local 555 represents approximately 7,780 Southwest Airlines Employees. ... View more

Southwest Airlines announces today that the Company has reached a tentative agreement with the Transport Workers Union (TWU) Local 556, representing more than 9,800 Southwest Flight Attendants. The tentative agreement is for a new, four-year contract through May 31, 2012. The current contract became amendable on May 31, 2008. Southwest Airlines and the TWU 556 began contract negotiations in May 2008. “We are pleased with this mutually beneficial contract that delivers enhancements to pay and benefits for our hard working Flight Attendants,” said Daryl Krause, Senior Vice President of Customer Services. “This agreement demonstrates TWU 556’s commitment to maintain Southwest's unique Culture, competitive position, and financial strength during these challenging economic times.” Earlier this morning, the TWU 556 Board voted for the Tentative Agreement to be presented to the Flight Attendants for their vote. The TWU 556 membership will be given the full details of the agreement and will have the opportunity to vote on ratification in the next few weeks. ... View more

By TERRY MAXON tmaxon@dallasnews.com An Indianapolis bankruptcy judge approved a plan Wednesday that lets Southwest Airlines Co. buy the assets of ATA Airlines Inc. for $7.5 million and take control of ATA's 14 takeoff and landing slots at New York LaGuardia Airport. With the sale set to close Friday, Southwest will be a step closer to launching service at the New York airport with a handful of flights. to read the entire article, visit: http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/bus/stories/DN-southwest_26bus.ART.State.Edition1.4aaa1ba.html ... View more

Southwest ranked number seven out of 20 in Chief Executive Magazine’s list of “Best Companies for Leaders” for 2008.  This was the fourth year the magazine has conducted the survey, and the first time Southwest has made the list.  More than 1,100 companies from 89 countries participated in the 2008 survey, which identified the top 20 companies across the world that demonstrate the importance of Leadership development.  All of the companies chosen were recognized for their formal, in-depth development programs and their cultures that make Leadership development a priority. Southwest’s MIT Program is a great example of how our Company educates and encourages our Leaders.  Find out more about this amazing honor and our MIT Program by reading a blog post by Senior Director Talent Development Elizabeth Bryant titled, “Leadership Southwest Style:  Building our Bench Since 1971” on the blog. To read the article, visit: http://www.chiefexecutive.net/ME2/dirmod.asp?sid=&nm=&type=Publishing&mod=Publications%3A%3AArticle&mid=8F3A7027421841978F18BE895F87F791&tier=4&id=BF3221D721F74109BD2FA95B404E4AC6 ... View more