Seems like a very bad move which will be proven down the road. The goal of Southwest seems to be to eventually merge the two operators. Southwest's financial performance has always been directly linked to its low cost structure. They have been a Boeing only airline forever and to even consider folding in Airbus aircraft (all of which are very young and not being replaced anytime soon), Airbus pilots, Airbus maintenance etc... changes their entire business model to now match those of the "legacy carriers". Oh yeah, don't those Airbus aircraft also have InFlight Entertainment/Satellite TV? So down the road I buy a ticket on "Southwest" at one price but I may or may not get TV?
I think if Herb will still around and literally calling all the shots that he once had this would never be considered. Southwest is trying to be everything to everyone now under Kelly and the original business model (one of the most successfull in the airline industry world-wide) that has been proven for decades will soon fall.
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