A report released Feb. 11 by the inspector general at the Department of Transportation says Dallas-based Southwest Airlines put millions of passengers at risk by flying aircraft that did not adhere to basic U.S. safety standards. The 27-page report published Tuesday details how the airline operated "more than 150,000 flights on previously owned aircraft that did not meet U.S. aviation standards," a fact that supposedly put 17.2 million passengers at risk over the course of that same period. That information…
As the battle between ultra-low-cost carriers and legacy carriers in the United States continues, few have taken time to pause and reflect on how Southwest Airlines, the largest domestic airline based on passengers flown in the U.S. in 2017, continues to thrive. This five-part series will discuss the overall state…
Last October, Southwest Airlines confirmed its intentions to begin flights to Hawaii in the future, following years of speculation. Last week during an earnings call, the airline released more information with Southwest’s chairman and CEO Gary Kelly announcing that flights would begin in late 2018, though the launch may be…
If you've flown Southwest from Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) in the last several years, you know about the challenging and chaotic state it has been in, driven by the major construction projects ongoing at the airport. Terminal 1, where Southwest operates out of, was built in the early 1980s…
The GOP tax bill has been making headlines recently and Southwest Airlines just announced a $1,000 bonus to all of its employees as a result of this tax reform. As a way for the airline to celebrate the recent passage of the tax reform legislation, the board of directors at…
For years now, enthusiasts, frequent fliers, and the airline industry as a whole have been speculating that Southwest Airlines would at some point commence service to Hawaii, the U.S. state located 2,390 miles from California. You heard that right. We’re thrilled to share our intention to bring our world-famous hospitality…
“My name is Gary Kelly, and I am an employee here at Southwest Airlines.” This was the unique start that Southwest’s CEO, Gary Kelly, had to say when his team opened the door for the first flight of the Boeing 737 MAX 8 operated by a U.S-based airline. The comment…
Airline hubs are generally not the kind of place that change much in terms of service. In the United States, given the last decade of consolidation among airlines, most hub airports will likely stay hubs for their respective airlines for years to come, with only growth or minor downsizing as…
From September 4, 2017, Southwest Airlines will end service to two of the three cities the airline flies to in Cuba. The airline currently serves Varadero and Santa Clara once daily from Ft. Lauderdale and Havana three times daily, twice from Ft. Lauderdale and once from Tampa. Southwest initially began…
On Wednesday, Southwest Airlines' CEO Gary Kelly addressed airline shareholders at its annual meeting in Phoenix. At the meeting, Kelly addressed various goals and the growth plan for Southwest going forward. One of the key points was the airline's future growth and possible expansion to Hawaii. The island state is…
