Southwest Airlines Community

Even though "Bags Fly Free" on Southwest Airlines, lighter is always better!  Kate Forgach offers five essentials for packing light on the "Go Frugal" blog.  Click here for some great tips:  http://www.freeshipping.org/blog/5-essentials-for-packing-light   ... View more

FAA APPROVES SOUTHWEST AIRLINES REPLACEMENT PLAN WITHOUT GROUNDING AIRCRAFT Parts Meet Manufacturer Requirements; Planes Safe to Fly; No Impact for Flying Public; Replacements Already Complete on 43 Aircraft   DALLAS – Sept. 1, 2009 – Southwest Airlines today reached a resolution with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), which approved the carrier’s plan to replace certain parts on flap exhaust gate assemblies on 82 of its Boeing 737-300 and -500 series aircraft.  Southwest has already begun an aggressive, yet safe and deliberate schedule to replace these parts on the affected aircraft. Southwest has accomplished replacements on 43 aircraft to date.  The remaining replacements will be made by Dec. 24, 2009, with an inspection of the assembly every seven days on affected aircraft until the replacements are made.  Southwest Customers will not experience any impact to their flight plans as a result of the replacement schedule.     “We want to assure our Customers that this situation is not about having unsafe parts on our airplanes.  Our approved vendor subcontracted a machining function without appropriate written approval from FAA.  As a result, the parts are considered unapproved and must be removed regardless of their quality,” said Mike Van de Ven, Southwest’s Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer.  “The parts have been inspected, and the FAA agrees that they meet the requirements of the aircraft manufacturer, Boeing.  We concur that this plan is the best and most reasonable manner in which to fulfill the FAA's mandate.”    Southwest Airlines, the nation's leading low-fare carrier, continues to stand above other airlines - offering a safe, reliable product with exemplary Customer Service. Southwest Airlines (NYSE: LUV), the nation's largest carrier in terms of domestic passengers enplaned, currently serves 67 cities in 34 states. Based in Dallas, Southwest currently operates more than 3,200 flights a day and has nearly 35,000 Employees systemwide.   ... View more

SOUTHWEST AIRLINES CARGO EARNS 2009 QUEST FOR QUALITY AWARD   Southwest Airlines Ranks Number One in Quality for Fourth Consecutive Year DALLAS—Aug. 31, 2009— Southwest Airlines Cargo is proud to announce Logistics Management magazine ranked the airline number one among all air carrier “Quest for Quality” award winners. For the fourth year in a row, Southwest Airlines earned the top spot, and for the 13th consecutive year it scored above the overall weighted industry average. Southwest Airlines earned the highest scores in the categories of Ontime Performance, Value, and Customer Service. Quest for Quality winners are determined from the results of an annual survey conducted by Logistics Management magazine, where more than 6,000 shippers ranked their transportation service providers on a variety of performance criteria such as Ontime Performance, Value, Information Technology, Customer Service, and Equipment & Operations.  For the past 26 years, Logistics Management’s Quest for Quality has been regarded in the transportation and logistics industry as one of the most important measures of Customer Satisfaction and performance excellence. “Southwest Airlines Cargo prides itself on offering the best quality and Customer Service in the industry. This award is a tribute to the most dedicated workforce in the business,” said Matt Buckley, Senior Director of Southwest Airlines Cargo. “We are honored that our Customers ranked Southwest highest on the Logistics Management Quest for Quality list again this year.” Southwest Airlines Cargo is recognized as an industry leader, winning numerous awards due to the relentlessly reliable Southwest Employees who run its operations across the nation. Southwest Airlines Cargo Employees are available to help Customers meet their shipping needs, delivering the excellent Customer Service and operational excellence for which the carrier is known. Southwest Airlines (NYSE: LUV), the nation's largest carrier in terms of domestic passengers enplaned, currently serves 67 cities in 34 states. Based in Dallas, Southwest currently operates more than 3,200 flights a day and has nearly 35,000 Employees systemwide. www.southwest.com ... View more

Low-Fare Carrier Submits Bid of More Than $170 million   DALLAS, TX—Aug. 10, 2009—Southwest Airlines (NYSE: LUV) confirmed today that the carrier submitted its binding cash offer of more than $170 million to acquire Frontier Airlines, which will be sold at auction as part of Frontier’s bankruptcy case.  The bid was submitted to Frontier in accordance with the procedures established in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of New York.  Over the next week, Southwest will discuss its offer with the various interested parties.  The auction is expected to commence on Thursday, Aug. 13.  Once the auction is concluded, the bankruptcy court must still approve the selection of the winning bidder.  From there, the bid will undergo review by the United States Department of Justice, which is normal and customary when one airline is purchasing another. At this point, it is premature for Southwest to release complete details of its offer, which may change during the auction process before a winning bid is approved by the bankruptcy court.  The offer contemplates that Southwest acquire approximately 80 percent of Frontier’s existing Airbus fleet, which translates into about 40 aircraft, plus all of Lynx.  Initially, Frontier would operate its Airbus aircraft as it does today, with a planned retirement of the Airbus fleet and transition to Southwest’s Boeing 737s over a period of approximately 24 months.  Despite the initial reduction in the fleet, Southwest intends to maintain all existing markets, as well as add new nonstop routes from Denver that are not served by either Southwest or Frontier today.          “We believe our bid ultimately should be seen as the strongest offer by all interested parties, including Frontier, its creditors, Employees, and Customers,” said Gary Kelly, Southwest’s Chairman of the Board, President, and CEO.  “Southwest is a financially stable Company, and through this acquisition, will continue to provide Denver its historically low fares into the future.  Frontier is up for sale.  The bankruptcy process will lead to change at Frontier in any scenario.  Given Southwest's history and track record of running a successful airline, we believe that our bid is the best option on the table for Frontier, Southwest, and the traveling public.  A successful acquisition of Frontier Airlines by Southwest will expand a network of legendary low fares to additional cities, add jobs into Southwest through growth, and strengthen low-fare competitive pressure in Denver and other cities.”    To view a blog regarding the news, please visit: www.blogsouthwest.com/blog/southwest-airlines-ceo-gary-kelly-bid-frontier.  Frontier filed for bankruptcy court protection in April 2008.  Southwest submitted its initial indication of interest to acquire Frontier Airlines on July 30, 2009, which gave the carrier an opportunity to engage with Frontier in the due diligence required to determine the scope of a binding proposal.   After 38 years of service, Southwest Airlines offers a reliable product with exemplary Customer Service. Southwest Airlines is the most productive airline in the sky and offers Customers a comfortable traveling experience with all premium leather seats and plenty of legroom.  Southwest recently updated its gate areas and improved its boarding procedure to make flying Southwest Airlines even more convenient and simple. Southwest Airlines currently serves 66 cities in 33 states, and announced service to Boston Logan, which begins Aug. 16, 2009, and to Milwaukee, which begins Nov. 1, 2009. Southwest currently operates more than 3,300 flights a day and has more than 35,000 Employees systemwide. This news release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.  Specific forward-looking statements relate to the Company’s interest in acquiring Frontier Airlines and the Company’s operating plans and expectations related to the acquisition. These forward-looking statements are based on the Company's current information, intent, expectations, and projections and are not guarantees of future actions or performance. These statements involve risks, uncertainties, assumptions, and other factors that are difficult to predict and that could cause actual results to vary materially from those expressed in or indicated by them. Factors include, among others, (i) the Company’s ability to receive all necessary approvals, including any necessary governmental or regulatory approvals and the approval of the Company’s Board of Directors; (ii) results of the Company’s due diligence; (iii) changes to the Company’s business plan and strategies; (iv) the Company’s being named the winning bidder in the auction process in Frontier’s bankruptcy proceeding and the Company’s ability to obtain all necessary approvals for the acquisition in Frontier’s bankruptcy proceeding, including approval by Frontier’s creditors and the bankruptcy court of Frontier’s plan of reorganization, (v) the Company's ability to timely and effectively prioritize its revenue and cost reduction initiatives; and (vi) other factors, as described in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the detailed factors discussed under the heading "Risk Factors" in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 2008. Therefore, the Company can give no assurance that any bid it submits to acquire Frontier will be successful or that any subsequent acquisition will be completed. www.southwest.com   Media Please Contact:  Public Relations at 214/792-4847   ... View more

After years of Left Field on the Flight Global/Airline Business site, aviation blogger David Field is back and on his own, with a unique and slightly cynical take on the airline business today.   Southwest diary: No New York Earthshakes Southwest just began service at New York's LaGuardia, and that's been occasion for a load of stories about how the low-fares leader is changing its business model and transforming itself. Well, it is a sight, the image of a Southwest plane in or at least near Gotham, but the airline's eight daily LaGuardia flights mark more of a continuation of its recent service patterns than any big, radical shift or major change. To read more, visit:  http://airlinefield.blogspot.com/   ... View more

SOUTHWEST AIRLINES NAMED OFFICIAL AIRLINE OF THE UNITED STATES HISPANIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE’S 30th ANNUAL CONVENTION & BUSINESS EXPO Dallas, TX - June 25, 2009 – Southwest Airlines was named the official airline of the US Hispanic Chamber of Commerce’s (USHCC) 30th Annual National Convention & Business Expo which will be celebrated this year Sept. 16 -19 in Denver, Colorado.     “It is an honor to be named the official airline of this annual business event.  The US Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (USHCC) will gather more than 3,000 business owners in an important conversation about the economy,” said Christine Ortega, Corporate Community Affairs manager for Southwest Airlines.  “We are proud to contribute to this organization and to be part of the effort to spur economic growth in our nation.” Ortega also serves on the Senior Executive Corporate Advisory Board providing advice and input to USHCC leaders as needed.   In support of the event, Southwest Airlines will team with the Chamber to offer the Chamber’s members information about specific products like Business Select and DING! that can save the business travelers time and money.  In addition, Southwest Airlines will provide five lucky Chamber members with complimentary airfare to the convention when they register online at www.ushcc.com/convention by September 4, 2009.  In addition to support of organizations like the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Southwest Airlines provides assistance to minority owned businesses who want to become  certified suppliers of the airline through its Supplier Diversity program.   Richard Moore, Southwest Airlines’ Director of Supplier Diversity, serves as the liaison through the chamber's Procurement Executive Corporate Advisory Board.                                                                   “We are very proud to have Southwest Airlines as the official airline of the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce’s annual convention,” said David Lizárraga, Chairman of the Board of the USHCC.  “Southwest Airlines has been a key partner for many years and their dedication to and support of the Hispanic business community if strong.  We look forward to this opportunity to continue strengthening our longstanding corporate relationship as it gives our members the freedom to fly.”   About the USHCC’s 30th Annual National Convention & Business Expo Founded in 1979, the USHCC has held an annual convention each year, visiting various cities across the United States and Puerto Rico over the past thirty years.  It is known as the most important national event for the Hispanic Business community on an annual basis.  The USHCC’s 30th Annual Convention is made possible with the support of Wells Fargo, its official Alianza partner; Southwest Airlines, the official airline of the USHCC’s 30th Annual National Convention; and Sprint, its official wireless provider.  For an updated list of partners and potential sponsorship information, visit www.ushcc.com/convention.    About Southwest Airlines  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 without punitive 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 and Milwaukee later this year) in 33 states.  Based in Dallas, Southwest currently operates more than 3,300 flights a day and has more than 35,000 Employees systemwide.           ... View more