Southwest Airlines Community

Southwest Airlines Declares 137th Consecutive Quarterly Dividend   Southwest Airlines’ (NYSE: LUV) Board of Directors declared a quarterly dividend of $.0045 per share to Shareholders of record at the close of business on December 9, 2010 on all shares then issued and outstanding. The 137th consecutive dividend will be paid on January 6, 2011. SOURCE Southwest Airlines ... View more

 Southwest Airlines Adds Three New Nonstop Destinations From Denver Carrier Adding New Daily Nonstop Flights to Columbus, Jacksonville, and Pittsburgh   DENVER, Nov. 16, 2010 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ — Southwest Airlines (NYSE: LUV) announced today that the carrier will add three new nonstop destinations from Denver with daily, nonstop flights to Columbus, Jacksonville, and Pittsburgh. For sale beginning today, Southwest will add one daily roundtrip flight each between Denver and the new markets, with service beginning on June 5, 2011. To book travel, visit: www.southwest.com. To view a blog post, visit: www.blogsouthwest.com   BEGINNING JUNE 5, 2011 (open for sale today):   One new daily nonstop roundtrip between Denver and Columbus. One new daily nonstop roundtrip between Denver and Jacksonville. One new daily nonstop roundtrip between Denver and Pittsburgh. Southwest Airlines began service to Denver on January 3, 2006, with 13 daily nonstop departures to three destinations. The airline currently operates 141 daily nonstop flights from the Mile High City, making Denver the fastest growing city in the Company’s history. By June, Southwest will operate 150 daily nonstop flights from Denver to 45 destinations. Southwest is actively engaged in the Denver community through sponsorships of the Downtown Denver Partnership, the Denver Nuggets, Red Rocks Amphitheater, Denver’s Road Home, the Mile High Pedicab Company, and many more local organizations. Southwest recently opened The Southwest Porch at Skyline Park along the 16th Street Mall (at 16th Street and Arapahoe), and the airline is teaming up with the Downtown Denver Partnership to bring an ice rink to Skyline Park, which will open on Nov. 26, 2010. To learn more about Southwest’s dedication to Denver, visit: www.southwest.com/denver. After nearly 40 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 nation’s largest carrier in terms of originating domestic passengers boarded, now serving 69 cities in 35 states. Southwest also is one of the most honored airlines in the world known for its commitment to the triple bottom line of Performance, People, and Planet. To read more about how Southwest is doing its part to be a good citizen, visit southwest.com/cares to read the Southwest Airlines One Report™. Based in Dallas, Southwest currently operates more than 3,100 flights a day and has nearly 35,000 Employees systemwide. www.southwest.com SOURCE Southwest Airlines ... View more

I think it’s time for some more photos of Southwest Airlines aircraft and hot pants from the early days.  While rummaging through our files recently, I found another bunch of slides and negatives that I had never seen before.  Especially for the 1970s, we have a lot of photos that were taken for promotional purposes, which were used once or twice, and then stored away and forgotten.  For example, our original inflight magazine, Southwest Airlines Magazine, had a monthly feature called Hostess of the Month” and I’ve written about these before. I’d bet money that the photos I found for this Flashback Fridays installment were used in this feature, and I think they were taken during the early summer of 1977 at the Boeing plant in Renton, Washington where the 737 is assembled.  (See below for my reasoning.)  In the photo above, our Flight Attendant is wearing street clothes and standing under a rack of fuselage stringers.  A similar photo can’t be made in Renton today because, starting in 1983, 737 fuselages have been assembled in Wichita. The next photo appears to be a bulkhead template, with a Boeing employee presenting a sidewall covering.  Looking at the mix of patterns in the Boeing employee’s wardrobe, one has to wonder if interior designs were her strong point. After changing into her uniform, our Flight Attendant poses by a set of main landing gear.  No doubt the photographer intended this to be a comparison of “legs.”  Note the 737 rudder by her left elbow.  The tail has the start of the Southwest livery, but looks as though it still has a good way to move down the production line. Compare the production status of the aircraft in the previous photo with this one.  They obviously are two different aircraft because this airframe is almost completed.  The Flight Attendant’s heroic pose leads the battle against high fares.  And finally we have this under-wing shot.  I am about 85 percent sure that the registration above her left shoulder is N28SW, which was delivered to Southwest in early July 1977.  That would date the photo to probably June of that year, based on the mostly completed state of the aircraft in this photo.  N29SW was delivered in early September of that year, so that may indeed be the aircraft in the landing gear photo up above. On an entirely different level, these photos really represent the end of an era.  In 1977, the airlines were living the last full year of regulation.  Southwest was serving most major Texas cities, and it was a Company poised to spread its wings beyond Texas.  You really are looking at a slice of life that was about to change in hundreds of ways. ... View more

 Southwest Airlines' Employees Celebrate 'Heroes Month' With Special Military Tribute at San Antonio Airport DALLAS, Nov. 11, 2010 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ — Southwest Airlines, along with the City of San Antonio, opened a special exhibit to honor more than 1,000 soldiers who come through the Airline’s gates either on their way to or returning from the battlefield. This unique display was created by Southwest Employee Kevin Kincaide, Ground Operations Supervisor, and it embodies a respectful salute to the military with a wall exhibition of family photos of Employees and/or family members who currently serve, have served or have lost their lives serving in the military. The wall is called: “24/7 a tribute to the military” because it depicts how the military is always vigilant, morning, day, and night to protect our country. This exhibition also will include some military memorabilia from the participants and will be available for the general public to see at the San Antonio International Airport Terminal A, until Nov 22. “I can think of no better place than Military City, U.S.A., to host a poignant exhibit like this — one that salutes our brave military men and women,” Mayor Julian Castro said. “I applaud Southwest Airlines for putting this exhibition in a location where it will be seen by thousands of visitors and residents of San Antonio.” Congressman Gonzalez also dedicated the exhibit. “President Obama proclaimed November as Military Family Month. He called ‘on all Americans to honor military families through private actions and public service for the tremendous contributions they make in the support of our service members and our Nation.’ I can think of no better example than this collection of art and images,” said Congressman Gonzalez. This tribute is one of Southwest’s national efforts to commemorate the Military heroes that everyday risk their lives for our Freedom. To see more of Southwest’s Military celebrations, please visit: nutsaboutsouthwest.com. “The heart and soul of this exhibition is the true LUV our Employees feel for the military, and the great sacrifices they make,” said Kevin Kincaide, Southwest Airlines San Antonio Employee. “We are proud to present this tribute created with the help of many great Employees and we thank the City of San Antonio for helping us make this dream happen.” Southwest Airlines also was included in the G.I. Jobs Military-Friendly Employers list for the second year in a row and has more than 750 Employees who currently serve in the National Guard and Reserves, along with thousands of Customers who served or are serving in the armed forces. About Southwest Airlines Southwest Airlines has a long history of supporting the men and women who fight for our Freedoms. This year, G.I. Jobs Magazine again named Southwest Airlines one of the Top 100 Military-Friendly Employers. After nearly 40 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 nation’s largest carrier in terms of originating domestic passengers boarded, now serving 69 cities in 35 states. Southwest also is one of the most honored airlines in the world known for its commitment to the triple bottom line of Performance, People, and Planet. To read more about how Southwest is doing its part to be a good citizen, visit southwest.com/cares to read the Southwest Airlines One Report™. Based in Dallas, Southwest currently operates more than 3,100 flights a day and has nearly 35,000 Employees systemwide. SOURCE Southwest Airlines ... View more

Southwest Airlines Selected by G.I. Jobs as One of 2011 Top Military Friendly Employers(R) Southwest Celebrates Its Inclusion on the Prestigious List for the Second Year in a Row. GI Jobs magazine recognized Southwest Airlines today as one of the top military friendly companies in the nation, with its eighth annual list honoring corporate best practices. To see the list visit: www.gijobs.com/top100pr. “Southwest Airlines is built upon the core values and strengths our Employees bring to the Company. The heart and soul of these men and women give us a competitive advantage and enduring strength,” said Jeff Lamb, Senior Vice President of Administration and Chief People Officer at Southwest. “As with the US Armed Forces, our People are highly skilled and reliable Employees who have the dedication, and training needed to get any job done.” The G.I. Jobs Military Friendly Employers® list, in its eighth year, serves as the primary benchmark of corporate recruiting programs aimed at veterans. The annual survey conducted by G.I. Jobs magazine is one of the primary tools used to determine the nation’s most Military Friendly Employers®. “This isn’t about charity or patriotism. It’s about good business. The companies on our list understand that,” said Rich McCormack, who heads G.I. Jobs’ list research. To honor the more than 750 Employees who currently serve in the National Guard and Reserves, along with thousands of Customers who served or are serving in the Armed Forces, Southwest Airlines is proud to call November its “”http://swamedia.com/releases/5b75cddb-f654-8300-e459-cb004cd43f1a">Military Heroes Month." The airline is working with select nonprofit organizations across the country throughout November to thank and give back to military service members and their families. To see more about Southwest military celebrations please visit: nutsaboutsouthwest.com ABOUT G.I. Jobs G.I. Jobs (www.gijobs.com) is published by Victory Media, a veteran-owned business, headquartered in Pittsburgh, Pa. The company also publishes Military Spouse and Vetrepreneur magazines. Follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/GIJobsMagazine or Twitter @GIJobsMagazine. ABOUT SOUTHWEST AIRLINES After nearly 40 years of service, Southwest Airlines (NYSE: LUV) continues to differentiate itself from other low fare carriers—offering a reliable product with exemplary Customer Service. Southwest Airlines is the nation’s largest carrier in terms of originating domestic passengers boarded; now serving 69 cities in 35 states. Southwest also is one of the most honored airlines in the world known for its commitment to the triple bottom line of Performance, People, and Planet. To read more about how Southwest is doing its part to be a good citizen, visit southwest.com/cares to read the One Report. Based in Dallas, Southwest currently operates more than 3,100 flights a day and has nearly 35,000 Employees systemwide. www.southwest.com SOURCE Southwest Airlines ... View more

    * Published On: Tue, Nov 09, 2010 Southwest Airlines and AirTran Holdings Each Receive Antitrust Second Request   Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE: LUV) and AirTran Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: AAI) announced today that each received a request yesterday for additional information from the Antitrust Division of the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) in connection with Southwest’s previously announced proposed acquisition of AirTran. This action, often referred to as a “second request,” is a common part of the regulatory approval process under the Hart-Scott-Rodino Antitrust Improvements Act. Both parties are in the process of gathering information to respond to the second request and will continue to work cooperatively with the DOJ as it reviews the transaction. Completion of the transaction remains subject to the approval of AirTran stockholders, receipt of DOJ and any other necessary clearances, and fulfillment of customary closing conditions. While a definitive closing date cannot yet be determined, Southwest and AirTran maintain their expectation that the transaction will close in the first half of 2011. About Southwest Airlines After nearly 40 years of service, Southwest Airlines (NYSE: LUV) continues to differentiate itself from other low fare carriers—offering a reliable product with exemplary Customer Service. Southwest Airlines is the nation’s largest carrier in terms of originating domestic passengers boarded, now serving 69 cities in 35 states. Southwest also is one of the most honored airlines in the world known for its commitment to the triple bottom line of Performance, People, and Planet. To read more about how Southwest is doing its part to be a good citizen, visit southwest.com/cares to read the Southwest Airlines One Report™. Based in Dallas, Southwest currently operates more than 3,200 flights a day and has nearly 35,000 Employees systemwide. About AirTran Airways AirTran Airways, a subsidiary of AirTran Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: AAI) and a Fortune 1000 company, has been ranked the number one low cost carrier in the Airline Quality Rating study for the past three years. AirTran Airways is the only major airline with Gogo Inflight Internet on every flight and offers coast-to-coast service on North America’s newest all-Boeing fleet. AirTran’s low-cost, high-quality product also includes assigned seating, Business Class and complimentary XM Satellite Radio on every flight. Important Information for Investors and Stockholders Communications in this press release do not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities or a solicitation of any vote or approval.The proposed acquisition of AirTran by Southwest Airlines will be submitted to the stockholders of AirTran for their consideration.In connection therewith, Southwest Airlines will file a registration statement on Form S-4 with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”) that will include a proxy statement of AirTran that also constitutes a prospectus of Southwest Airlines.Southwest Airlines and AirTran also plan to file other documents with the SEC regarding the proposed transaction.SOUTHWEST AIRLINES URGES INVESTORS AND SECURITY HOLDERS OF AIRTRAN TO READ THE PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS AND ANY OTHER RELEVANT DOCUMENTS THAT WILL BE FILED WITH THE SEC CAREFULLY AND IN THEIR ENTIRETY WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT THE PROPOSED TRANSACTION.Investors and security holders may obtain free copies of the proxy statement/prospectus and other documents containing important information about Southwest Airlines and AirTran, once such documents are filed with the SEC, through the website maintained by the SEC at www.sec.gov.Copies of the documents filed with the SEC by Southwest Airlines will be available free of charge on Southwest Airlines website at www.southwest.com under the tab “Investor Relations” or by contacting Southwest Airlines Investor Relations Department at (214)792-4415.Copies of the documents filed with the SEC by AirTran will be available free of charge on AirTran’s website at www.airtran.com under the tab “Investor Relations” or by contacting AirTran’s Investor Relations Department at (407)318-5188. Southwest Airlines, AirTran and certain of their respective directors and executive officers may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from the stockholders of AirTran in connection with the proposed transaction.Information about the directors and executive officers of Southwest Airlines is set forth in its proxy statement for its 2010 annual meeting of shareholders, which was filed with the SEC on April16, 2010.Information about the directors and executive officers of AirTran is set forth in its proxy statement for its 2010 annual meeting of stockholders, which was filed with the SEC on April2, 2010. These documents can be obtained free of charge from the sources indicated above.Other information regarding the participants in the proxy solicitation and a description of their direct and indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, will be contained in the proxy statement/prospectus and other relevant materials to be filed with the SEC when they become available. Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.These include statements relating to Southwest’s plans and expectations with respect to the acquisition of AirTran, including the anticipated timeframe for closing of the acquisition.These forward-looking statements are based on Southwest’s and AirTran’s current intent, beliefs, 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, the possibility that the transaction is delayed or does not close, including due to the inability of Southwest and AirTran to obtain all approvals necessary or the failure of other closing conditions. Southwest and AirTran caution that the foregoing list of factors is not exclusive.Additional information concerning these and other risks is contained in Southwest’s and AirTran’s most recently filed Annual Reports on Form 10-K, subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, recent Current Reports on Form 8-K, and other SEC filings.Southwest and AirTran undertake no obligation to publicly update any of these forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances that may arise after the date hereof. SOURCE Southwest Airlines Co.; AirTran Airways ... 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 Southwest Airlines Offers Nationwide Fare Sale for Winter Travel Air fares Starting as Low as $59 One-Way to Select Destinations   Don’t let the cold weather keep you at home this winter—get out of town and take advantage of Southwest’s latest fare sale! Southwest Airlines is offering Customers nationwide air fares starting as low as $59 one-way to select destinations. Take advantage of these super low fares available only at southwest.com and start planning your winter vacation today! These fares are available with a 14-day advance purchase today through Nov. 22, 2010, and are good for travel between Dec. 1, 2010, and Dec. 16, 2010, and between Jan. 4, 2011, and Feb. 16, 2011. To see the list of markets, prices, and to take advantage of these special fares, visit www.southwest.com. Examples of fares include (see Additional Fare Rules below):   $59 one-way between Denver and Los Angeles $86 one-way between Austin and Panama City Beach $94 one-way between New Orleans and Tampa Bay After nearly 40 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 nation’s largest carrier in terms of originating domestic passengers boarded, now serving 69 cities in 35 states with service to Charleston and Greenville-Spartanburg beginning March 13, 2011. Southwest also is one of the most honored airlines in the world known for its commitment to the triple bottom line of Performance, People, and Planet. To read more about how Southwest Airlines is doing its part to be a good citizen, visit southwest.com/cares to read the Southwest Airlines One Report™. Based in Dallas, Southwest currently operates more than 3,100 flights a day and has nearly 35,000 Employees systemwide. ADDITIONAL FARE RULES Fares are available only on http://www.southwest.com/?src=PRPRPRNSALE000000100720. Southwest Airlines fare sales are available with a 14-day advance purchase today through Nov. 22, 2010, 11:59 p.m. PST, and travel must take place between Dec. 1, 2010, and Dec. 16, 2010, or between Jan. 4, 2011, and Feb. 16, 2011. Fares do not include a federal segment tax of $3.70 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 Washington, D.C. (Dulles) and Ft. Myers, is not included in the sale. Seats are limited. 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 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 SOURCE Southwest Airlines ... View more

Even a casual reader of Flashback Fridays will know that the Boeing 737 features prominently in many of these posts.  I thought we would take a moment to look at a few pages from the 737 history book this week.  For instance, how many of you know which airline was the first to operate the “baby Boeing?”  United would be a good guess, and some of you probably said Southwest, but the 737 was already an airline veteran, having entered service three years before our first flight.  Actually, the German carrier Lufthansa was the first to operate the 737, and the first variant was the short-bodied 737-100.  On February 10, 1968, Lufthansa became the first international airline to introduce a Boeing jet, and only 30 737-100s were completed.  I was fortunate to fly on a 737-159 being used by Air Cal in 1981.  This aircraft, N472GB, was one of the five -100s built for operators other than Lufthansa, and it was flown by Avianca, the Luftwaffe, and Aloha, before arriving at Air Cal.   United was the first to operate the widely used 737-200, and the first -200 went into service on April 28, 1968.  Another interesting fact about the early operation of the 737 was that the United aircraft initially operated with three-pilot cockpits, a Captain, First Officer, and Second Officer/Flight Engineer, even though it and the rival DC-9 were designed for two-pilot operation.  Southwest’s first 737s were 737-200s.  The photo above is from our last 737-200 flight on January 17, 2005.  The 737-100 and 737-200 are considered to be the “Original” generation of 737s. Once Southwest became established as a major 737 operator, we began to take the lead in the the 737s future life.  We were the first airline to operate the new 737-300 and 737-500 variants.  The photo above shows the first -300 to operate in airline service, N300SW, and yes, that is Chuck Yeager.  The 737-300, 737-400 (not operated by Southwest), and the 737-500 comprise the “Classic” generation of 737s. Boeing continued to upgrade the airframe, and the Next Generation, or NG family, was born in the 1990s.  Once again, we were the first to operate a new 737 variant and the first to operate the initial NG family in early 1998 with the introduction of the 737-700.  The NG family includes the 737-600, 737-700, 737-800, and 737-900.  Boeing’s 737 is well on the way to overtaking the DC-3/C-47 as the most numerous airliner ever built.  On February 13, 2006, we were part of a huge milestone for the 737 family when we accepted the delivery of the 5,000th 737 to be constructed (above). The day after the big gala, N230WN was made ready for its delivery flight.  One of the highlights of picking up any new airplane at the factory is the signing ceremony, and above, we see all the folks gathered around for the big event.  N230WN carries a special plaque proclaiming its place in aviation history. Another time-honored tradition of delivery flights is the salute by the Boeing folks and our own Employees at Boeing Field as the first flight leaves the ramp area. ... View more

Wow, that was a busy day!  Last Thursday was Media Day 2010, where media representatives from all over the nation had access to our Officers.  We filled their day with updates on major projects and breaking news. We began the day in Freedom Hall here at Headquarters with a Brand Update from Kevin Krone.  Kevin talked about the success and history of our Bags Fly Free campaign, emphasized our commitment to not charge change fees on tickets, and gave a look at our current “You Can Only Book on southwest.com” commercials.  Kevin’s blog post recaps his presentation. Although only four weeks have passed since the announcement that Southwest intends to acquire AirTran Airways, we received several questions during a panel discussion. The inquiries centered around how the two airlines would come together if approval is granted by various regulatory authorities. Until the acquisition is approved, Southwest and AirTran will continue to operate as separate organizations. Among other topics, Southwest Leaders EVP Strategy & Planning Bob Jordan, EVP & Chief Operating Officer Mike Van de Ven, and SVP Administration & Chief People Officer Jeff Lamb reported on the initial meeting of the Integration teams from both airlines. They were clear that after only one month from announcing the agreement, there are still many answers to be determined. Here’s a quick recap from their session: A full story on the Integration Team Kick-Off in Dallas last week is now posted to LowFaresFarther.com, the official public site for information on the acquisition. Throughout the Integration Planning process, the focus remains on leveraging the best of both airlines and finding ways to integrate them to benefit all Customers once the deal closes. “We’ve been very impressed with the People, the spirit, and the innovations at AirTran,” Jordan said. Employees from both airlines are top of mind for the Integration teams, as they seek to understand how everyone can play a role in this exciting time in our history, Lamb said.  The roll out of fleet-wide WiFi (via Row 44) on Southwest Airlines is continuing, as is our analysis of AirTran’s inflight connectivity system. Southwest and AirTran are excited at the possibilities of extending low fares farther into new markets around the country. “This is an extraordinary opportunity to serve more people in more places,” Jordan said. As stated previously, the intent is for Southwest’s popular Bags Fly Free policy to continue, and for the combined airline to not charge change fees. The discussion also turned to Southwest assumption that its open seating philosophy will continue. Jordan said the response from Customers to the prospect of acquisition has been “vastly positive,” acknowledging there are still “a lot of unknowns.” Noting that Southwest will need time to educate potential Customers about Southwest, “we want to assure them that they will get the same, or better, experience on Southwest than they would on another carrier.” Jordan referenced Southwest’s successful entry into key business markets such as New York LaGuardia, Boston Logan, Minneapolis, and Milwaukee where we had to win over new fans accustomed to such amenities as business-class and assigned seats. Citing Southwest’s position as the largest carrier in terms of Customers boarded, Jordan said, “We feel there are many benefits” to flying Southwest that new Customers will like. He noted business-traveler friendly programs such as Business Select (automatic checkin that allows for an early boarding assignment), A-List Membership (which allows for higher boarding priority), and FlyBy (dedicated) Security Lanes helping to smooth the transition to offer business travelers similar advantages to what they currently experience on other carriers. In fact, as Gary Kelly said later during Media Day, these new programs at Southwest have proved tremendously popular among business travelers. Also mentioned during the session, but relevant; Southwest’s Rapid Rewards frequent flyer program is being refreshed to offer exciting new benefits that would better allow for an expanded Southwest route system, among other enhancements. After that, attendees toured our Operations Coordinator Center, and the highlight was a look at our Dispatch room, which is the operational heart of our airline.  Then, it was off to lunch at one of our Maintenance Hangars. The highlight of the lunch session was a panel with Bob Jordan, Robby Byam, Director Partnership Alliance, and two representatives from Volaris, Enrique Beltranena, CEO of Volaris, and Holger Blankenstein, their Chief Commercial Officer.  The big news here is that, effective November 12, the International Connect page on southwest.com will begin offering connecting flights to Mexico with Volaris.  Bill Owen’s blog post has more details. WiFi was the after-lunch Media Day entrée.  Dave Ridley and Brian Hirshman not only updated the progress of the WiFi installation on our fleet, they gave pricing details for the product—a flat $5.00 introductory fare for the installation period.  (Some of the features like a moving map display will be free.)  Our Boeing 737-700 fleet should be completely equipped with WiFi by the end of 2012.  Check out Dave’s blog post for more information. Then, everyone returned to Freedom Hall to hear Gary Kelly’s presentation.  Our CEO took questions from the media representatives about the information they received during the day, and he also had some breaking news.  Gary announced that we will begin service to Newark on March 27 with an initial eight roundtrips a day—six to Chicago Midway and two to St. Louis.  Bill Owen has a post with details. Thanks to all of the media representatives who attended this year for making this Media Day a success. ... View more

This week, our friends over at AirTran are completing their 17th year, and I thought it might be interesting to “flashback” to what Southwest was like on our own 17th birthday back in 1988.  We began the year with 75 aircraft and 5,765 Employees.  (AirTran currently has 138 aircraft and about 8,000 employees.)  The year previous, we had opened two new cities, Birmingham and Detroit Metro.  When 1988 dawned, our frequent flyer program, the Company Club was six months old, and like any new year, hopes were high. We didn’t waste any time in opening the year by announcing that we had become the Official Airline of SeaWorld of Texas on January 5, 1988.  SeaWorld California would join the partnership in May.  The first Shamu debuted on May 23 to celebrate the partnership.  (A few years later, it would participate in the opening of Baltimore/Washington, above.)  On March 7, we introduce Fun Pack mini-vacations, which were among our first air/ground package offerings.  Previously on February 8, the Company Club began a bonus program where Members only needed five roundtrips through the end of the year to earn an Award. Also in March, we announced a major increase in the number of flights to be flown on April 3 with additional nonstop flights between Dallas and New Orleans, a nonstop flight from Phoenix to New Orleans, additional one-stop service from Phoenix to Albuquerque, Houston Hobby, Ontario, San Diego, San Francisco, and Tulsa, and a nonstop from San Antonio to Los Angeles.  The growth continued with Phoenix gaining 23 additional departures, a flight increase of 25 percent, on June 2.  Compare 1988's first quarter load factor of 51.6 percent with our recently announced 2010 third quarter load factor of 80.9 percent.  I think the event of the year that was most typical of Southwest occurred on April 22.  To ease our smoking Customers (remember when Passengers smoked on airline flights?) into new federal regulations prohibiting smoking on flights of two hours or less duration, we distributed 200,000 lollipops over the next few days.  This had to be a (perhaps, intentional?) homage to Telly Savalas’s Kojack character.  With the addition of close-in Detroit City Airport to our route map on July 6, Southwest now operated almost 900 daily flights to 27 airports in 13 states.  Herb and Detroit Mayor Coleman Young (above) cut the ribbon to inaugurate Detroit City service.  On the same day at Houston Hobby, we added the six former TranStar gates on Concourse C to our nine existing Concourse A gates, thus creating a layout that would perplex Houston’s connecting Customers for years to come as they had to reclear security while going from one concourse to the other.  The new Hobby concourse that was completed in the last few years finally removed this inconvenience.  On September 30, the LUV Classic golf tournament raised almost $36,000 for the Dallas Ronald McDonald House.  In comparison, this year’s classic raised $600,000 for Ronald McDonald Houses in Dallas, Detroit, Ann Arbor, and St. Louis.  Then on November 15, 1988, we broke ground for our current Headquarters Building, and a few days after that on November 29, the Houston Maintenance Base opened.  Our 17th year was very similar to that of a human teenager.  Like most kids who finish high school and enter the adult world at age 18, Southwest kind of “grew up" too during our 18th year.  We would open what is now our current Bay Area anchor, Oakland, and Southwest would become a major airline under the Department of Transportation measurements as our annual operating revenues exceeded $1 billion.  We most often look at our landmark birthdays, the tenth, 20th, and 30th, but oftentimes, those in-between years offer much significance. ... View more

Next up, we have a question and answer session about AirTran with Mike Van de Ven, our Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer,  Bob Jordan, our Executive Vice President Strategy and Planning, and Jeff Lamb, our Senior Vice President Administration and Chief People Officer.  Don't forget that you can watch the proceedings live at our Facebook page under the "Live" tab. ... View more

The presentations have just started.  Kevin Krone, our Vice President Marketing, Sales, and Distribution, is speaking about the status of the Southwest Brand. ... View more

Media Day is about to begin. Media representatives from all over the country are attending the event here at Headquarters, and our Senior Vice President of Culture and Communications, Ginger Hardage, is about to greet them.  We have a very full agenda today, and my colleague, Brooks Thomas, and I will be live blogging throughout the day, including posting some blogs from our decision makers. As your local television promo would say, we are providing "team coverage" of the event with tweets on Twitter, and starting in a few minutes, live streaming video at our Facebook page, under the “Live” tab.  Our swamedia site will have more in-depth information, so check that out too. ... View more

SOUTHWEST AIRLINES ANNOUNCES FARES AND FLIGHTS TO/FROM SOUTH CAROLINA Airline Will Operate Seven Daily Nonstop Flights Each To/From Charleston and Greenville-Spartanburg Airports Beginning March 13, 2011 DALLAS—Oct. 20, 2010— Southwest Airlines is coming to the Palmetto State! Today, Southwest announced it will begin service to/from Charleston International Airport (CHS) and Greenville-Spartanburg Airport (GSP) on March 13, 2011. In Charleston, the carrier will operate seven daily nonstop flights to four destinations:  three to Baltimore/Washington, two to Chicago Midway, one to Nashville, and one to Houston Hobby. Southwest Airlines will operate from gate B5 in Charleston’s main terminal. In Greenville-Spartanburg, the airline will begin service with seven daily nonstop flights to five destinations:  two to Baltimore/Washington, two to Chicago Midway, one to Nashville, one to Houston Hobby, and one to Orlando. Southwest Airlines will operate from gates A3 and A4 in Greenville-Spartanburg’s main terminal. To celebrate the addition of Charleston and Greenville-Spartanburg to the Southwest network, Southwest Airlines is offering a special two-day fare sale only on southwest.com. Through 11:59 p.m. PDT on Thursday, Oct. 21, 2010, Customers can find fares as low as $30 one-way to any nonstop market to/from CHS and GSP for travel through April 6, 2011 (see fare rules below).  When the $30 fare sale ends, Customers will still be able to book fares as low as $59 one-way for travel every day except Fridays and Sundays March 14, 2011, through May 25, 2011. To view these special offers only available on southwest.com, visit http://www.southwest.com/southcarolina?src=PREMNASCHSGSPOPEN101020. “Southwest Airlines is delighted to bring our special brand of low-fare, high-quality Customer Service to travelers in Greenville-Spartanburg and Charleston,” said Dave Ridley, Southwest Airlines Senior Vice President of Marketing and Revenue Management. “For nearly 40 years, we have been liberating Customers across the country from the tyranny of high fares and poor service. We can’t wait to continue this mission by introducing our wonderful People, low fares, and Boeing 737 jet service to the Palmetto State.” In addition to the seven daily nonstop flights to/from these cities, Southwest Airlines’ new service will offer direct or connecting service to more than 60 destinations including: Las Vegas, Denver, Dallas Love, Sacramento, and Salt Lake City. To hear more about the new service, check out Southwest's blog at www.blogsouthwest.com for a video from Southwest Executives Dave Ridley and Bob Montgomery on how Southwest is bringing big planes, low fares, and great people to South Carolina. “The arrival of Southwest Airlines will absolutely be a game changer for the entire Upstate,” said Dave Edwards, GSP Executive Director. “Not only will passengers benefit from low fares and additional destinations, but we’ve already heard from those working in the area of economic development that they are getting calls from business and industry groups from around country that never would have considered the Upstate without Southwest Airlines.” “Southwest Airlines’ announcement to bring new service and value pricing to Charleston International Airport is clearly welcome,” said Susan Stevens, Director of Airports for Charleston County Aviation Authority. “Southwest’s vast national network will be linked to the Charleston region and will offer both residents and visitors new options for travel to and from the Lowcountry,” The entrance into South Carolina marks the 36th state in Southwest’s network. Greenville-Spartanburg will be the carrier’s 70th city, and Charleston will be its 71st. After nearly 40 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 nation's largest carrier in terms of originating domestic passengers boarded, now serving 69 cities in 35 states.  Southwest also is one of the most honored airlines in the world known for its commitment to the triple bottom line of Performance, People, and Planet.  To read more about how Southwest is doing its part to be a good citizen, visit southwest.com/cares to read the Southwest Airlines One Report™.  Based in Dallas, Southwest currently operates more than 3,200 flights a day and has nearly 35,000 Employees systemwide. $30 One-Way Fare Rules Fares are available only on www.southwest.com. Southwest Airlines fare sales are available for purchase October 20, 2010, through October 21, 2010, 11:59 p.m. PDT, and travel must take place between March 13, 2011, and April 6, 2011.  Fares do not include a federal excise tax of $3.70 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 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 valid for travel to nonstop destinations only. 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.   Introductory Fare Rules Fares are available on www.southwest.com or swabiz.com. Southwest Airlines fare sales are available for purchase October 20, 2010, through December 31, 2010, 11:59 p.m. PDT, and travel must take place between March 13, 2011, and May 25, 2011, excluding April 21-25, 2011. Travel valid every day except Fridays and Sundays. Fares do not include a federal excise tax of $3.70 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 destination, 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 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

Following up to my last Flashback Friday post about the former Pan American terminal on Treasure Island, I thought we might stay in the 1930s for one more week.  It’s easy to forget the roots of commercial air travel and just how far we have come, and also there is a big lesson here about thinking outside the box and willingness to change.  My first airplane trip was in 1954 in a DC-3 on the Dallas-based Pioneer Air Lines, which merged with Continental the next year.  The DC-3 above is a former American example, and it was on display at this year’s Air Venture at Oshkosh.  Over 16,000 DC-3s and its various military variants like the C-47 were built, so it is still ahead of the 6,000 or so 737s constructed.  The DC-3's family tree goes back even earlier because it is a variant of an earlier aircraft, and therein is our story. TWA, under the technical advice of Charles Lindbergh, was responsible for the launch of the Douglas Commercial Series.  Above we see one of the rare remaining examples of the DC-2 at AirVenture.  It wasn’t the first modern airliner, that honor went to Boeing and its model 247.  The 247 in comparison to the Ford Tri-Motors and the bi-planes that  airlines were using at the time was fast, comfortable, and dependable.  United was the launch customer for the 247, but United and Boeing were part of the same company.  When other airlines like TWA and American went to Boeing to buy 247s, they were told they would have to wait several years until all the United aircraft were completed. TWA couldn't wait, so at that point, it turned to Douglas and asked them to build a larger, faster, more comfortable aircraft than the 247.  Lindbergh drew up a requirement that it had to be able to take off, climb, and reach the next destination from the airline’s highest city, Winslow, Arizona, by only using one engine.  In response, Douglas built the DC-1, a 12-seater that met and surpassed Lindbergh’s requirements.  Soon, the production version, a slightly larger 14-seat DC-2 was rolling off the Santa Monica production line, and the airlines of the world were beating a path to Douglas to order the “Two.”  The picture above shows that the DC-2’s cabin was pretty similar in concept to current aircraft, even though it was only wide enough for one-abreast seating. One of the established DC-2 operators gave Douglas a dilemma.  American Airlines wanted a larger aircraft seating 21 passengers for daytime or 14 overnight berths.  Douglas could have turned them down and continued its profitable DC-2 production or it could take a chance on the new larger aircraft.  Here is a classic business dilemma:  Do you abandon a proven, steady seller like the DC-2 to gamble on a new product that could bring even greater sales, but with no guarantees, especially during the Depression.  Or, do you concentrate on the sure thing and avoid risk.  Boeing had chosen the latter course by refusing to modify its 247 production lines, and it would be almost 25 years before Boeing would build a successful airliner with the 707. Douglas took a gamble on change and chose to build the larger, more complex DC-3.  The DC-3 (above), with 2+1 seating is wider than the DC-2, has more powerful engines, and was more economical to operate.  Almost overnight, the DC-2 was obsolete. The DC-3 quite simply defined air travel; in its military version, it flew with all of the US armed forces and our allies.  It was license built in Japan (and the Japanese kept manufacturing it after they attacked us at Pearl Harbor) and in the Soviet Union as the Li-2.  The DC-3 had a lengthy life with the major airlines, operating alongside the early jets of airlines like Continental and Delta.  Local airlines like the original Frontier, Trans Texas, Allegheny, North Central, and my dad's Pioneer relied upon the “Three” as their primary equipment for many years.  Douglas became the primary airframe manufacturer for the world’s airlines until the onset of the Boeing line of jetliners. Not a bad legacy for the willingness to adapt to a changing world.   ... View more

Southwest Airlines and Its Stock Clerks End Mediation and Announce Tentative Agreement DALLAS, Oct 08, 2010 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Southwest Airlines (NYSE: LUV) and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT) Airlines Division, representing the carrier's Stock Clerks, announced today that the two parties have reached a tentative agreement. The tentative agreement is for a new, five-year contract through August 16, 2013. The current contract became amendable on August 16, 2008.   Earlier this year, Southwest and the Teamsters agreed to seek assistance from the National Mediation Board through the mediation process as defined by the Railway Labor Act. This current tentative agreement is due to the hard work and dedication of both parties. "I want to congratulate the negotiation teams for working together to reach this new tentative agreement, which delivers wage and benefit enhancements in exchange for work rule improvements and contract flexibility," said Mike Van de Ven, Southwest Airlines Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. "These are exciting times at Southwest, and our hard working Stock Clerks play an important role in the future success of this great Company." In the upcoming weeks, the IBT membership will be given the full details of the agreement and have the opportunity to vote on ratification. IBT represents more than 170 Southwest Airlines Employees. After 39 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 nation's largest carrier in terms of originating domestic passengers boarded and now serves 69 cities in 35 states. Southwest also is one of the most honored airlines in the world, known for its commitment to the triple bottom line of Performance, People, and Planet. To read more about how Southwest is doing its part to be a good citizen, visit southwest.com/cares to read the Southwest Airlines One Report(TM). Based in Dallas, Southwest currently operates more than 3,200 flights a day and has nearly 35,000 Employees systemwide. ... View more

Right up front, I will admit that there isn’t a direct Southwest Airlines reference in this edition of Flashback Fridays, but I am going to take a look at what I consider hallowed ground to anyone in the airline industry or to airline passengers.  It’s a site that, as a naval base, has been removed from general public access since the entry of the U.S. into World War II, although it is in plain view of the residents of San Francisco. Treasure Island is a man-made island in the middle of San Francisco Bay and is accessed by the Bay Bridge. It sits next to the natural Yerba Buena Island.  Treasure Island was built for the 1939 and 1940 World’s Fair, The Golden Gate International Exposition, which along with the New York World’s Fair of  the same years, would be the last big collection of Art Deco buildings constructed.  With a couple of key exceptions, those magnificent buildings were destroyed after the fair.  (If you have ever visited Fair Park here in Dallas—also the site of a World’s Fair, the 1936 Texas Centennial, you have an idea of what Treasure Island looked like back then.) So why would I say this is hallowed ground for aviation?  Well, the photo above is one of the few buildings constructed for the Fair.  Yes, that’s a control tower on the top of it.  You are looking at what was the first permanent transpacific airport terminal.  Pan American World Airways flew the first transpacific mail flight with the China Clipper from nearby Alameda on November 22, 1935.  Sister ship Hawaii Clipper inaugurated passenger service between Alameda, Honolulu, Midway, Wake, Guam, and Manila on October 21, 1936.  The Alameda facility was razed for the construction of the Alameda Naval Air Station.  Pan Am moved to the Treasure Island facility in 1939, and by this time, the three Martin Clipper flying boats were joined by the Boeing 314, a much improved flying boat with greater range.  A large hangar (still standing) was built behind the terminal building, and the aircraft were moored in Clipper Cove, where passengers boarded for the overnight journey to Honolulu.  Today, pleasure craft fill Clipper Cove. The intent was for Treasure Island to become San Francisco’s airport after the fair, and runways were to be built where fair buildings stood.  The attack on Pearl Harbor put an end to those plans and the Navy took over the island.  They eventually swapped land with the City of San Francisco, giving the city the land where the current SFO International is. Now the island provides affordable housing to residents of San Francisco.  Thankfully, the terminal still stands, pretty much in original condition.  Take a look at the original artwork above which is on the ends of the terminal. I know this sounds so “geeky,” but as I walked up to the entrance, I found myself transported back to 1939.  The statues in the photos were from the fair, and had been located around the island.  As far as I could tell, these are the same doors that Pan American’s passengers walked through to check in for their flights.  Ever since I started reading about Pan Am’s history and especially that of the flying boat era (along with the history or the 1939-40 Fair), I have wanted to visit the island.  About 30 years ago, a friend flew me over the island in a small aircraft, but it just wasn’t the same as being there. The building is now the home for the Treasure Island Development Authority and contains leasing offices.  However, except for one small desk and some displays about the island, the main lobby is empty.  The large windows above the doorways light the lobby area, much like the train stations it emulates.  Inside, the lobby smells like other buildings of this era, and it very much is a time machine.  At one point under Navy control, the Treasure Island Museum had a display area here, and they are trying to reopen a museum.  Pan Am passengers would head to their aircraft by a similar set of doors behind the building which led to Clipper Cove. The views of San Francisco from Treasure Island are spectacular.  This is the view from the terminal’s main entrance, and I think it is fitting that ,out of the entire panorama of “The City” which is visible from the Island, the terminal entrance offers a view of North Beach which closest resembles the 1939 view from the island.  Pan American literally built its routes out of the air with ingenuity, vision, and courage.  They flew where no man had flown before.  This building, this hallowed ground, is a testament to the folks who first spanned the world, and then wrote the book for air travel.  We owe them much. ... View more

SOUTHWEST AIRLINES celebrates diversity with NORTH TEXAS summit Dallas, TX. Oct 7, 2010 – Southwest Airlines is celebrating workplace diversity by hosting its first Diversity Summit today themed “Join the Conversation.”  The Summit will gather executives from North Texas local Fortune 500 companies to dialogue about diversity and inclusion initiatives, and fostering new opportunities, and expand best practices.   Joining the conversation as keynote speaker is Dr. George C. Wright, President, Prairie View A&M University.  Dr. Wright will be sharing his personal diversity journey and the impact it has had on his life.  The Summit will focus on dialogue, education, and strengthening relationships to support an ever-changing workforce. The Summit also will provide participants with a workshop hosted by Pamela Tegarden, founder of the Soluna Institute, about raising the tide on gender diversity, and Tegwin Pulley, who will discuss, “Diversity, Employees, and the Bottom Line.”   “We are thrilled to be hosting the first Southwest Airlines Diversity Summit in our hometown of Dallas.  The purpose of this Summit is to listen and learn about diversity and inclusion best practices through open dialogue and interactive workshops,” said Linda Rutherford, Southwest’s Vice President Communication and Strategic Outreach. “A modern and diverse workforce is a key competitive advantage in the national marketplace. Southwest Airlines has an outstanding network of more than 35,000 Employees systemwide in 35 states, and growing.”   The Southwest Airlines Diversity Summit was created and hosted by the airline’s Corporate Diversity Council.  This Council is comprised of Southwest Employees who meet each month to improve the recruitment and advancement of women and minorities, increase supplier diversity, educate/train “Respecting Differences” consistent with meeting our Company’s business objectives, and create awareness of and show appreciation for cultural or lifestyle differences within our diverse workforce.  This year, Hispanic Business Magazine named Southwest Airlines as one of the top Elite companies for Diversity.   ABOUT SOUTHWEST AIRLINES After nearly 40 years of service, Southwest Airlines (NYSE: LUV) continues to differentiate itself from other low fare carriers—offering a reliable product with exemplary Customer Service. Southwest Airlines is the nation’s largest carrier in terms of originating domestic passengers boarded; now serving 69 cities in 35 states. Southwest also is one of the most honored airlines in the world known for its commitment to the triple bottom line of Performance, People, and Planet. To read more about how Southwest is doing its part to be a good citizen, visit southwest.com/cares to read the One Report. Based in Dallas, Southwest currently operates more than 3,200 flights a day and has nearly 35,000 Employees systemwide. ... View more

Southwest Airlines Reports September Traffic DALLAS, Oct 07, 2010 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ — Southwest Airlines Co. (NYSE: LUV) announced today that the Company flew 6.1 billion revenue passenger miles (RPMs) in September 2010, a 5.1 percent increase from the 5.8 billion RPMs flown in September 2009. Available seat miles (ASMs) increased 4.7 percent to 8.1 billion from the September 2009 level of 7.7 billion. The load factor for the month was 75.0 percent, compared to 74.7 percent for the same period last year. For September 2010, passenger revenue per ASM is estimated to have increased approximately eleven percent as compared to September 2009. For the third quarter 2010, Southwest flew 20.7 billion RPMs, compared to the 19.7 billion RPMs flown for the same period in 2009, an increase of 4.9 percent. Available seat miles increased 3.2 percent to 25.6 billion from the third quarter 2009 level of 24.8 billion. The third quarter 2010 load factor was 80.9 percent, compared to 79.6 percent for the same period last year. For the nine months ended September 30, 2010, Southwest flew 58.0 billion RPMs, compared to the 56.3 billion RPMs flown for the same period in 2009, an increase of 3.1 percent. Available seat miles decreased 1.1 percent to 73.6 billion from the 2009 level of 74.5 billion. The year-to-date load factor was 78.8 percent, compared to 75.6 percent for the same period last year. This release, as well as past news releases on Southwest, are available online at southwest.com. SOUTHWEST AIRLINES CO. PRELIMINARY COMPARATIVE TRAFFIC STATISTICS SEPTEMBER 2010 2009 CHANGE Revenue passengers carried 6,929,811 6,778,713 2.2 % Enplaned passengers 8,309,821 7,950,437 4.5 % Revenue passenger miles (000) 6,064,311 5,771,993 5.1 % Available seat miles (000) 8,083,556 7,723,485 4.7 % Load factor 75.0% 74.7% 0.3 pts. Average length of haul 875 851 2.8 % Trips flown 91,143 89,497 1.8 % THIRD QUARTER 2010 2009 CHANGE Revenue passengers carried 22,871,775 22,375,590 2.2 % Enplaned passengers 27,814,896 26,396,360 5.4 % Revenue passenger miles (000) 20,673,082 19,706,579 4.9 % Available seat miles (000) 25,557,692 24,771,016 3.2 % Load factor 80.9% 79.6% 1.3 pts. Average length of haul 904 881 2.6 % Trips flown 287,200 283,663 1.2 % YEAR-TO-DATE 2010 2009 CHANGE Revenue passengers carried 65,732,032 64,811,451 1.4 % Enplaned passengers 79,063,561 75,951,788 4.1 % Revenue passenger miles (000) 58,041,024 56,281,687 3.1 % Available seat miles (000) 73,648,997 74,495,618 (1.1)% Load factor 78.8% 75.6% 3.2 pts. Average length of haul 883 868 1.7 % Trips flown 836,314 852,371 (1.9)% SOURCE Southwest Airlines ... View more

About New York City, The Frank Sinatra standard says if “you can make it there you can make it anywhere,” and on October 5, we did make it there at the annual PRNews Platinum PR Awards event.  Southwest Airlines went head to head with other companies, organizations, and PR firms in the competition, and we did amazingly well.   I’m going to start with something near and dear to my heart for the past four and a half years, and that is this blog.  I know a lot of you have been reading or contributing to this endeavor over that period, and PRNews inducted Nuts About Southwest into their “Hall of Fame.” The criteria for induction are for initiatives that “have set high benchmarks for originality and execution, and will likely be referred to for years to come.”  We are honored for the recognition, and we are in the midst of an upgrade that will provide you with the features you want the most.   In addition to the Hall of Fame, we also won the “WOW Award” for the Southwest Porch in Bryant Park that helped introduce our service out of LaGuardia Airport.  PRNews cites our Porch efforts by saying that it “offered visitors the chance to interact with Southwest Airlines Employees, and generated brand familiarity in a city with an exceedingly competitive and crowded airspace.”    We were a finalist for the “On a Shoestring Campaign,” and our recognition was for what we called our “WOW! Sale” in which we used our social media channels as the primary means of publicizing the sale.   The biggest prize of all went to our entire Communication Department.  We were selected as one of the “TOP Places to Work in PR,” and as I said, we were battling other companies and some large PR firms.  This award recognizes “agencies and organizations that match their superb in-house and client PR work with equally outstanding internal efforts to support employees' personal growth and success.”  PR news cited our Share the Spirit program that demonstrates “corporate social responsibility within the company and in the workplace,” and our department’s “inclusive and lively workplace, propelled by a ‘work hard, play hard’ maxim.”     The PRNews Platinum PR Awards are like our Emmys, minus the stretch limos, the red carpet, the paparazzi, and the low-cut evening dresses, but we thank PRNews for rewarding our efforts.  To see a complete list of awards and participants, click here. ... View more

October 1 is the 25th Anniversary of our annual LUV Classic golf tournament.  This is a perfect time to flashback to the early days of one of Southwest Airline’s biggest Share the Spirit event.  But before I do, a few words about the event.  Over the past 25 years, the LUV Classic has raised $11 million in contributions for the Ronald McDonald House Charities—one of our primary corporate charities.  Last year, Annie Hancock wrote about the early history of the Classic, and it is worth reading again.  For this Flashback Fridays effort, I am sharing some photos of the Classic’s early days, and you will be able to see Herb Kelleher in his unique “links couture.”  But before we do, take a look at the photo above from the 1988 event.  The woman across the table from Colleen Barrett to the far left of the picture is Annie.  She will probably kill me when she sees this, but you can’t talk about the LUV Classic without talking about Annie Hancock who has nurtured the event into one of the largest fund raisers in the Dallas/Fort Worth area. Annie pours her heart and soul into each event. Here’s Herb in the photo above watching his shot go down the fairway (hopefully) at the 1988 event.  I don’t play golf so I can’t comment on his form. For the next year’s event, Herb has swapped his pastel ensemble for traditional golf knickers.  No word if the change in attire helped his average, but taken with the next photo, this seems to indicate a decline in golf course demeanor. By the 2000 event, Herb’s golfing wardrobe was basic Northwest logger.  There’s zero chance that the photo above was taken at the 2000 Masters in Augusta. Even for the first event in 1986, volunteers were the key to the success of the tournament.  By 1989, there were considerably more volunteers, and we see Colleen with some of the volunteers for that year.  And I thought I would close with a picture of Colleen with Ronald McDonald himself.  That obviously wasn’t some kind of clown weapon that he is holding in his hands because Colleen was unharmed. ... View more

Chairman of the Board, President, and Chief Executive Officer of Southwest Airlines to Receive Distinguished Alumnus Award   AUSTIN, Texas – Gary Kelly, Chairman of the Board, President, and CEO of Southwest Airlines, will be recognized by the Texas Exes at their Distinguished Alumnus Awards Friday, Oct. 22, in Austin. The award, created in 1958, recognizes annually up to six graduates or former students of The University of Texas at Austin who have distinguished themselves professionally and through service to the university. The Distinguished Alumnus Award is the highest honor given by the Texas Exes.   Kelly received a bachelor’s degree in business administration with honors from The University of Texas at Austin in 1977. After graduation, he joined Arthur Young & Company as a CPA in Dallas and worked as controller for Systems Center, Inc.   In 1986, Kelly joined Southwest Airlines as Controller. From there he rose to Vice President of Finance and Chief Financial Operator, then to Executive Vice President, and on to CFO. In 2004, Kelly was named the airline’s CEO, and the titles of Chairman and President were added in 2008.   In 2008, Kelly was named top CEO in the country by Institutional Investor magazine and CEO of the Year by D Magazine and the Dallas Morning News. Among his other honors are being named a finalist for Texan of the Year by the Dallas Morning News in 2005 and one of Business Travel News’ 25 most influential executives of 2004.   Kelly has worked closely with Southwest co-founder Herb Kelleher to continue to build the nation’s largest airline in terms of originating domestic passengers boarded and low-fare leader. Even during tough economic times, Kelly has faithfully followed Kelleher’s example of never laying off or cutting the pay of his Employees.   Kelly also gives back to The University of Texas at Austin, serving as Vice Chair of the McCombs School of Business Advisory Council and as a member of the school’s Accounting Advisory Board.   There will be five other recipients honored at the event in addition to Kelly, including David Beck, attorney and founder of Beck, Redden & Secrest, L.L.P; Ernest Cockrell, chairman of Cockrell Interests Inc. and president and director of The Cockrell Foundation; Elizabeth (Libba) Shatto Massey, civic leader and philanthropist; Diane P. Wood, federal judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit in Chicago and a senior lecturer at the University of Chicago Law School; Hector De Leon, founder of the law firm of De Leon & Washburn, P.C..   The Texas Exes was founded in 1885. The mission of the Texas Exes is to unite, inform and involve alumni and friends for the purpose of promoting, protecting and preserving The University of Texas at Austin. Today there are about 90,000 members whom the association strives to connect to each other and to the past, present and future of the university through career counseling, travel, reunions, continuing education, fellowship, legislative advocacy in support of higher education and The Alcalde magazine. For more information on the Texas Exes or to become a member, visit TexasExes.org. ... View more