History of Southwest Airlines

Since its inception in 1967 and its difficult early years during which it was prevented from operating, Southwest Airlines has grown to be one of the largest airlines in the United States.

Early history

Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-200 wearing the original livery while landing in 1975
Southwest Airlines Boeing 727-200 at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport in 1984
Boeing 737-500 at Amarillo, Texas
A Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-700 at McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas.

Southwest Airlines began with the March 15, 1967, incorporation of Air Southwest Co. by Rollin King and Herb Kelleher to fly within the state of Texas.[1][2]

Kelleher asserted that by staying within Texas, the price controls and market regulations imposed by the federal Civil Aeronautics Board would not apply, and the airline could gain market share by undercutting competitors' prices.[3] Three airlines (Braniff, Trans-Texas Airways and Continental Airlines) started legal action that was not resolved for three years. Air Southwest prevailed in 1970 when the Texas Supreme Court upheld Air Southwest's right to fly within Texas.[4] The Texas decision became final on December 7, 1970, when the U.S. Supreme Court declined to review the case without comment,[5] vidicating Kelleher's opinion on the limits of federal market regulation.

On March 29, 1971 Air Southwest Co. changed its name to Southwest Airlines Co.[2] with headquarters in Dallas. Southwest began scheduled flights on June 18, 1971, Dallas to Houston (initially IAH) and Dallas to San Antonio with three 737-200s.[6] The OAG for 15 October 1972 shows 61 flights a week each way between Dallas and Houston Hobby, 23 each way between Dallas and San Antonio and 16 each way between San Antonio and Houston; no flights were scheduled on Saturdays.

Revenue passenger-kilometers, in millions
Year Traffic
1975 480
1979 2,405
1985 8,587
1990 16,024
1995 37,535
2000 67,923
2005 97,097
Source: Air Transport World

Southwest Airlines founder Herb Kelleher studied California-based Pacific Southwest Airlines (PSA) and used many of PSA's ideas to form the corporate culture at Southwest. Early flights used the same "Long Legs And Short Nights" theme for stewardesses on board typical Southwest Airlines flights. A committee including the same person who had selected hostesses for Hugh Hefner's Playboy jet selected the first flight attendants, females described as long-legged dancers, majorettes and cheerleaders with "unique personalities." Southwest Airlines and Herb Kelleher dressed them in hot pants and go-go boots.[7]

The New York Times wrote in 1971 that Southwest Airlines President Lamar Muse, "says frankly—and repeatedly—that Southwest Airlines has been developed from its inception around the ideas that have proven to be successful for Pacific Southwest Airlines." "We don't mind being copycats of an operation like that," referring to a visit he and other Southwest executives made to PSA as they assembled their operating plans. PSA welcomed them and even sold them flight and operations training. Muse later wrote that creating the operations manuals for his upstart airline was "primarily a cut and paste procedure" and it is said that "Southwest Airlines copied PSA so completely that you could almost call it a photocopy."[8]

The rest of 1971 and 1972 saw operating losses. One of the four 737s was sold to Frontier Airlines and the proceeds used for payroll- and other expenses. Southwest continued a schedule based on four aircraft but using only three, so the "ten minute turn" was born and was the standard ground time for many years.[9][10]

Wright Amendment

The Wright Amendment of 1979 was a federal law that governed traffic at Dallas Love Field until many restrictions from the amendment were removed in late 2014. It originally limited most nonstop flights to destinations within Texas and neighboring states.[11] The limits began to phase out in 1997 and 2005; in 2006, the amendment was repealed, with some restrictions intact until 2014, but added a restriction on the number of gates allowed.[12]

When airline deregulation came in 1978, Southwest began to plan interstate flights from Love Field, causing groups affiliated with Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, including the city of Fort Worth, Texas, to push the Wright Amendment through Congress to restrict such flights.[13] Under the amendment, Southwest and other airlines were barred from operating or even ticketing passengers on flights from Love Field to destinations beyond the states that border Texas. The Wright Amendment's restrictions did not apply to aircraft with 56 or fewer seats; Southwest did not use the 56 seat loophole.[14] Southwest's first schedule out of Texas was Hobby to New Orleans about February 1979.

In 1997 Southwest's efforts paid off with the Shelby Amendment, which added Alabama, Mississippi and Kansas to the allowed destinations. Southwest began nonstop service between Dallas Love Field and Birmingham, Alabama.[15]

Network expansion

Southwest just flew to Dallas Love Field (DAL), Houston (IAH, then HOU) and San Antonio (SAT) until 1975 when it added Harlingen. In 1979 Southwest flew to eleven Texas cities and added its first route out of the state, Houston-New Orleans, on January 25 of that year.[16] In 1980 Southwest expanded north to Tulsa and Oklahoma City and west to Albuquerque; in 1982, north to Kansas City and west to Phoenix, Las Vegas and California.

Flights to Denver started in 1983 (and ended in 1986), to Little Rock 1984, to St Louis and Chicago Midway in 1985, to Nashville in 1986 and to Detroit Metro and Birmingham in 1987. Eastward expansion resumed in 1992 with Cleveland and Columbus, then Baltimore in 1993. The Pacific Northwest started in 1994 after the Morris Air acquisition; Tampa and Fort Lauderdale started in January 1996. East to Providence in 1997, Manchester in 1998, and Islip and Raleigh-Durham in 1999.

Southwest's only route within California was San Francisco-San Diego until the airline started flying in Oakland in 1989; in the next few years its capacity on the West Coast significantly increased.

1980s–2000s

Southwest hired its first black pilot, Louis Freeman, in 1980. In 1992, he was named the first black chief pilot of any major U.S. airline.[17]

In 1981, Southwest was successfully sued for its then-existing policy of hiring only female flight attendants and ticket agents.[18][19]

Southwest's Houston Pilot Base opened on June 1, 1984. Houston was its first crew base outside Dallas.[20]

A 737–300 (N648SW) pictured in Southwest's original desert gold livery.

On November 30, 1984, Southwest took delivery of its first Boeing 737–300. Southwest was the launch customer and as of May 2012 was the largest operator of the aircraft type.[21] The first 737-300 was dubbed "Kitty Hawk."[22]

Southwest paid US$60.5 million in stock and cash for Muse Air when Muse was on the verge of collapse in 1985. After completing the acquisition, Southwest renamed MuseAir TranStar Airlines. TranStar became a wholly owned subsidiary of Southwest and operated as an independent airline. Unwilling to compete in a fare war against Frank Lorenzo's Texas Air, Southwest eventually sold TranStar's assets to Lorenzo in August 1987.[23][24]

Southwest moved into its current headquarters in 1990. Previously, the airline was headquartered at 3300 Love Field Dr, then in the 1820 Regal Row building in Dallas in 1979, by Love Field.[25] At that time the headquarters had 256,000 square feet (23,800 m2) of space and approximately 650 employees.[26] The current headquarters facility was built at a cost of $15 million in 1990 dollars.[27] In early 1995 the building received an additional 60,000 square feet (5,600 m2) of space. As of 2006 about 1,400 employees worked in the three story building.[26]

In 1990, the airline registered its aircraft in Houston so it could pay aircraft taxes in Houston, even though the actual corporate headquarters were in Dallas. Southwest was not physically relocating any assets, but Texas state law allowed the airline to choose either Dallas or Houston as the city of registry of its aircraft.[28]

Southwest acquired Morris Air, a competing airline based in Salt Lake City, Utah, in 1993, paying US$134 million in stock.[29] After completing the purchase, Southwest absorbed the capital and routes of Morris Air into Southwest's inventory and service, including Morris' Pacific Northwest destinations not previously served by Southwest.[30] One founder of Morris Air, David Neeleman, worked with Southwest for a short period before leaving to found WestJet and then JetBlue Airways, a competing airline.[31]

A Southwest Airlines Boeing 737–700 with blended winglets (N741SA) pictured on the tarmac at Chicago Midway International Airport wearing the airline's original desert gold livery.

On March 16, 1995, Southwest created its first website. Originally called the "Southwest Airlines Home Gate," passengers could view schedules, a route map and company information at Iflyswa.com.[32] Southwest.com was the number one airline website for online revenue, according to PhoCusWright. Nielsen/Netratings also reported that Southwest.com was the largest airline site in terms of unique visitors.[6] In 2006, 70 percent of flight bookings and 73 percent of revenue was generated from bookings on southwest.com. As of June 2007, 69 percent of Southwest passengers checked in for their flights online or at a kiosk.[6]

Southwest Airlines gained a reputation for "outside the box thinking" and proactive risk management, including the use of fuel hedging to insulate against fuel price fluctuation. Some analysts have argued against the style of profit-motivated energy trading Southwest did between 1999 and the early 2000s. They suggested that rather than hedging business risk (such as a hedge on weather to a farmer), Southwest was simply speculating on energy prices, without a formal rationale for doing so.[33]

At present, Southwest has enjoyed much positive press (and a strong financial boost) from its energy trading skills.[34][35][36] However, while most analysts agree that volatility hedges can be beneficial,[37] speculative hedges are not widely supported as a continuing strategy for profits.[38]

In March 1996, after the Dallas City Council unanimously voted to allow for construction, the airline began to build a 300,000 square feet (28,000 m2) addition to the existing corporate headquarters at a cost of $30 million in 1996 dollars.[39][40] This occurred after, on Wednesday March 13, 1996, [41] the airline leased two additional tracts of land, a total of 10 acres (4.0 ha) of space, from the City of Dallas to build a new pilot training facility, a headquarters expansion, and additional parking spaces. A $9.8 million new pilot training facility was built on a 5 acres (2.0 ha) plot of land owned by the city of Dallas; it was scheduled to be completed in the Spring of 1997. With the new pilot training facility built, the old one would be removed and the company would expand its headquarters building on the former training facility site. 120,000 square feet (11,000 m2) of building space, which had a price of $16 million including fixtures, was built, making the headquarters have a total of 436,000 square feet (40,500 m2). The airline also leased 4.8 acres (1.9 ha) from the city of Dallas to build additional parking; 700 spaces were added to the existing 1,200. After the expansion, Southwest had a total leasehold of about 24 acres (9.7 ha) of land, including its headquarters, training facilities and parking. By the end of 1997, the expansion of the facilities at Love Field and several terminal improvements were expected to cost Southwest $47 million.[26]

2000s

Repealing the Wright Amendment
A Southwest Airlines Boeing 737–700 landing at San Jose International Airport.

In late 2004, Southwest began actively seeking the full repeal of the Wright Amendment restrictions. In late 2005, Missouri was added to the list of permissible destination states via a transportation appropriations bill. New service from Love Field to Saint Louis, Missouri and Kansas City, Missouri quickly started in December 2005.[42]

At a June 15, 2006, joint press conference held by the city of Dallas, the city of Ft. Worth, Dallas-Ft. Worth Airport, American Airlines and Southwest Airlines, the said parties announced a tentative agreement on how the Wright Amendment was to be phased out. Both the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives passed Wright-related legislation on September 29, 2006, and it was signed into law by President George W. Bush on October 13, 2006. The new law became effective on October 16, 2006, when the FAA Administrator notified Congress that any new aviation operations occurring as a result of the new law could be accommodated without adverse effect to the airspace.[43]

Southwest started selling tickets under the new law on October 19, 2006. Highlights of the agreement are the immediate elimination of through-ticketing prohibitions and unrestricted flights to domestic destinations eight years after the legislation takes effect. Because of the agreement, nationwide service became possible for Southwest; the law also defined the maximum number of gates at Love Field. Southwest controlled all but four of the Love Field gates. United Airlines controlled two and American Airlines was initially supposed to operate from the other two, however, because of American's merger with US Airways, it had to give up the two gates at DAL. Virgin America began leasing the two gates from American on October 13, 2014.[44]

Southwest remains the dominant passenger airline at Love Field, maintains its headquarters, hangars, training centers and flight simulators adjacent thereto and reflects its ties to Love Field in its winged heart livery and its stock exchange ticker symbol (LUV).

2008–2009
Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-800 touches down at Las Vegas

In 2008, Southwest contracted with Pratt and Whitney to supply the proprietary Ecopower water pressure-washing system, which allows Southwest to clean grime and contaminants off engine turbine blades while the aircraft is parked at the gate. Frequent use of the Ecopower system is estimated to improve fuel efficiency by about 1.9%.[45][46]

Southwest paid US$7.5 million to acquire certain assets from bankrupt ATA Airlines in 2008. Southwest's primary reason for making the purchase was to acquire the operating certificate and landing slots at New York's LaGuardia Airport formerly controlled by ATA. While some preferential hiring was indicated at the time of the purchase, the transaction ultimately did not include the purchase of any aircraft, facilities or transfers of employees directly from ATA.[47]

On March 6, 2008, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) inspectors submitted documents to the United States Congress, alleging that Southwest allowed 117 of its aircraft to fly carrying passengers despite the fact that they were "not airworthy" according to air safety investigators.[48] In some cases the aircraft were allowed to fly for up to 30 months after the inspection deadlines had passed, rendering them unfit to fly. Records indicate that thousands of passengers were flown on aircraft deemed unsafe by federal standards. Southwest declined comment at the time and US Representative James Oberstar advised a hearing would be held.[48][49]

A Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-700 with blended wingtips departing Denver, CO.

On March 12, 2008, Southwest Airlines voluntarily grounded 44 aircraft to check if they needed further inspection. The FAA claimed that Southwest Airlines flew almost 60,000 flights without fuselage inspections taking place. Southwest Airlines faced a $10.2 million fine if found to have violated FAA regulations. There have also been rumors that the FAA knew about Southwest Airlines' violations but decided not to fine the airline because it would disrupt the airline's services.[50]

On March 2, 2009, Southwest settled these claims, agreeing to pay the FAA fines of $7.5 million for these safety and maintenance issues. The original fine of $30.2 million – a sum that would have been the largest fine in the agency's history – was lowered after a year of negotiations. The FAA gave Southwest two years in which to pay the fine.[51]

On July 30, 2009, Southwest Airlines made a $113.6 million bid for bankrupt Frontier Airlines Holdings, the parent company of Frontier Airlines. Southwest planned to initially operate Frontier as a stand-alone carrier, eventually absorbing the airline and replacing Frontier's aircraft with Boeing 737s.[52] Less than one month after submitting its bid, Southwest learned on August 14 that it had lost the initial bidding to Republic Airways Holdings and elected not to counter or pursue the deal further. Southwest stated that its requirement for pilots' unions at both companies to reach a negotiated (not arbitrated) agreement as a condition of acquisition was a key factor in its abandonment of its bid.[53]

On August 26, 2009 the FAA investigated Southwest for installing improper parts on about 10% of its jets. The work was performed by an outside maintenance company. The FAA stated that the parts do not present a safety danger, but the airline was given until December 24, 2009 to replace the parts with those approved by the FAA.[54]

2010s

AirTran Airways acquisition

An AirTran Airways Boeing 737–700 taxiing at Fort Lauderdale Hollywood International Airport

Southwest Airlines first announced the acquisition on September 27, 2010 and received final approval from the United States Department of Justice on April 27, 2011. On May 2, 2011, Southwest Airlines completed the acquisition of AirTran Airways by purchasing all of the outstanding common stock, corporate identity and operating assets of AirTran Holdings, Inc., the former parent company of AirTran Airways. Southwest Airlines estimates the transaction's value at $3.2 billion and expects onetime costs to integrate the two airlines of $500 million, with cost synergies of approximately $400 million annually. The greatest impact on Southwest, access to Atlanta, international service and the addition of landing slots at New York-LaGuardia Airport and Washington-Reagan Airport. Southwest obtained a single operating certificate (SOC) from the United States Federal Aviation Administration on March 1, 2012, but the airline was not fully integrated until AirTran had its last flight on December 28, 2014.

An entity called Guadeloupe Holdings was formed by Southwest to act as a wholly owned subsidiary of Southwest Airlines and holding company for AirTran's operations and assets. Southwest's organized labor groups ceded contractual "scope" provisions pending acceptable negotiated seniority integration agreements.[55] Southwest transitioned aircraft, routes and employees from AirTran to Southwest on a one-by-one basis until all parts of AirTran were integrated to Southwest.

The purchase added 25 additional destinations previously not served by Southwest including cities in the Caribbean and Atlanta, Georgia, an AirTran hub and at the time, the largest U.S. city not served by Southwest. On October 10, 2011, USA Today reported that Southwest would work to no longer bank flights in Atlanta as AirTran did.[55]

On February 14, 2013, Southwest began codesharing with AirTran. It took the first step on January 26, 2013 by launching shared itineraries in five markets. Southwest continued to launch shared itineraries with 39 more markets beginning February 25, 2013. In April 2013, shared itineraries were expanded to all Southwest and AirTran cities (domestic and international).[56] The airlines were fully integrated on December 29, 2014.[57]

2011–present

Southwest 737-700 on final at LAX

For the tenth year in a row, Fortune magazine recognized Southwest Airlines in its annual survey of corporate reputations. Among all industries in 2004, Fortune has listed Southwest Airlines as number three among America's Top Ten most admired corporations.[58]

On December 13, 2011, Southwest placed a firm order for 150 Boeing 737 MAX aircraft, becoming the launch customer for the type. First delivery is expected in 2017.[59]

In January 2012, Southwest Airlines expressed interest in serving Mexican- and South American destinations out of Houston's William P. Hobby Airport.[60] On May 30, 2012 Houston's city council approved Southwest's request for international flights from Hobby.[61] Southwest agreed to invest at least $100 million to cover all costs tied to the Hobby upgrade, which included designing and building five new gates and a customs facility. Construction at Hobby took two years, with international flights beginning in October 2015.[62][63]

On April 11, 2012, Southwest introduced the 737–800 to the fleet. It seats 175 passengers as compared to the regular 143-seater 737-700. The first 737–800 was called "Warrior One"[64] in salute of the Southwest Employees’ Warrior Spirit.

On May 5, 2014, Southwest announced that it had chosen Amadeus IT Group to replace its current domestic reservation system. Southwest already operated its international reservation system with Amadeus. The new domestic reservation system was expected to take a few years to be fully implemented. When completed, Southwest will operate one reservation system by Amadeus.[65]

In September 2014, Southwest introduced new branding, including a new livery and logo.[66]

On October 13, 2014, the Wright Amendment restrictions at Dallas Love Field were repealed and Southwest expanded service at Love Field to include cities outside the previous location restrictions.[67]

Throughout 2014, Southwest expanded service at Reagan-National in Washington D.C. and LaGuardia Airport in New York City through slot acquisitions from the American Airlines/US Airways merger.[68]

On June 10, 2016, Southwest received approval to begin flights to Cuba.[69] Southwest was one of six airlines chosen by the USDOT to commence scheduled service to Cuba. Southwest will launch service from Fort Lauderdale–Hollywood International Airport to Varadero, Cuba and Santa Clara, Cuba.[69]

In July 2016, an operational outage caused by technology problems cancelled hundreds of Southwest flights, stranding tens of thousands of passengers and many aircrew.[70][71][72]

References

  1. ↑ "Southwest Airlines – A Brief History". southwest.com. Southwest Airlines Co. 2009. Archived from the original on August 18, 2010. Retrieved January 6, 2011. More than 38 years ago, Rollin King and Herb Kelleher got together to start a different kind of airline.
  2. 1 2 "1966 to 1971". swamedia.com. Southwest Airlines Co. 2011. Retrieved June 1, 2011. March 15, 1967 Air Southwest Co. is incorporated.
  3. ↑ Texas State Historical Association. "Southwest Airline". Retrieved 24 Nov 2016.
  4. ↑ Original Court Decision Upheld, Texas International Airlines, Inc., Petitioner, v. Civil Aeronautics Board Respondent, Southwest Airlines Company, Intervenor Braniff Airways, Inc., Petitioner, v. Civil Aeronautics Board, Respondent, Southwest Airlines Company, Intervenor, 473 F.2d 1150 (United States Court of Appeals, Dec 11, 1972)
  5. ↑ Certiorari denied, 400 U.S. 943 (1970)
  6. 1 2 3 "Fact Sheet". swamedia.com. Southwest Airlines Co. 2016. Archived from the original on May 2, 2011. Retrieved May 2, 2011.
  7. ↑ Freiberg, Kevin, and Jackie Freiberg. NUTS!. Austin, Texas: Bard Press, 1996.
  8. ↑ Collins, Jim and Morten T. Hansen. Great by Choice. New York, NY: HarperCollins Publishers, 2011.
  9. ↑ Libby Sartain (1998). "Why and how Southwest Airlines uses consultants". Journal of Management Consulting. Retrieved June 9, 2007.
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  11. ↑ Petzinger Jr., Thomas (1995). Hard landing. Three River Press, New York, 594 p. ISBN 0-8129-2835-0.
  12. ↑
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  17. ↑ "BWI Airport and Southwest Airlines Salute African American Aviation Pioneers – 1st African American Chief Pilot, 1st African American President of female flying organization highlight Feb. 24 program". Baltimore/Washington International Airport. February 5, 2005. Archived from the original on May 15, 2007. Retrieved June 9, 2006.
  18. ↑ Wolfson, Beth; Palumbo, Carla; Lindgren, J. Ralph; Taub, Nadine (2010). The Law of Sex Discrimination (4 ed.). Cengage Learning. p. 114. ISBN 978-0-495-79322-9. Retrieved 14 April 2015.
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  23. ↑ Schlangenstein, Mary; Hughes, John (October 28, 2010). "Southwest CEO Risks Keep-it-Simple Strategy to Reignite Growth". Bloomberg L.P. Archived from the original on January 12, 2011. Retrieved January 12, 2011. ...Morris Air in 1993 for $134 million in stock and Muse Air in 1985 for $60.5 million in stock and cash....
  24. ↑ Brooker, Katrina; Wheat, Alynda (May 28, 2001). "The Chairman Of the Board Looks Back". money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune. Cable News Network. Archived from the original on January 12, 2011. Retrieved January 12, 2011. By 1985 it was on the verge of collapse. We wound up buying it, renamed it TranStar, and operated it as an independent airline.
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  26. 1 2 3 "Southwest Airlines to expand headquarters and training facilities near Love Field." Business Wire. March 13, 1996. Retrieved on March 4, 2010.
  27. ↑ "Southwest will report slim profit." The Dallas Morning News. April 26, 1990. Retrieved on March 4, 2010. "Mr. Kelleher, who made his remarks at the opening of the airline's new $15 million headquarters facility at Dallas Love Field,"
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  29. ↑ "Morris Travel Services L.L.C". fundinguniverse.com. Funding Universe LLC. 2011. Archived from the original on January 12, 2011. Retrieved January 12, 2011. In December 1993 Southwest Airlines, headed by Herb Kelleher, acquired Morris Air.
  30. ↑ "A Timeline of Southwest Airlines at a Glance". seattletimes.com. Associated Press. June 25, 2009. Archived from the original on January 12, 2011. Retrieved January 12, 2011. Acquires Morris Air to expand into the Pacific Northwest.
  31. ↑ Peterson, Barbara S. (2004). Blue Streak: Inside jetBlue, the Upstart that Rocked an Industry. Portfolio Hardcover. ISBN 1-59184-058-9.
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  33. ↑ Pae, Peter (May 30, 2008). "Hedge on fuel prices pays off". Los Angeles Times.
  34. ↑ "Southwest Airlines' fuel hedging pushes profits". USA Today. April 19, 2007. Retrieved May 23, 2010.
  35. ↑ Koenig, David (October 21, 2005). "Airlines That Hedged Against Fuel Costs Reap Benefits". The Washington Post. Retrieved May 23, 2010.
  36. ↑ Bailey, Jeff (November 28, 2007). "Southwest Airlines gains advantage by hedging on long-term oil contracts –". International Herald Tribune. Retrieved August 22, 2011.
  37. ↑ Carlos Blanco; J. Lehman; N. Shimoda (2005). "Airlines Hedging Strategies: The Shareholder Value Perspective" (PDF). Retrieved June 10, 2007.
  38. ↑ "Southwest Airlines: Losing Its Fuel Hedge Competitive Advantages". 24/7 Wall St. April 19, 2007. Retrieved August 22, 2011.
  39. ↑ Lee, Christopher and Terry Maxon. "Southwest to announce expansion at Love Field $72 million project would add jobs, but no more flights." The Dallas Morning News. March 13, 1996. Retrieved on February 18, 2010.
  40. ↑ "Southwest Airlines expands its corporate headquarters to prepare for the next century;." Business Wire. December 11, 1996. Retrieved on February 18, 2010. Archived December 15, 2012, at the Wayback Machine.
  41. ↑ Maxon, Terry. "Council OKs Southwest land lease Headquarters addition, training center planned." The Dallas Morning News. March 14, 1996. Retrieved on February 18, 2010.
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  44. ↑ "Virgin America: We have a deal for AA's Dallas Love gates". usatoday.com. Retrieved 2014-04-25.
  45. ↑ Southwest Ecopower Press Release June 11, 2008
  46. ↑ Lunsford, J. Lynn. "Airlines Dip Into Hot Water to Save Jet Fuel." Wall Street Journal. June 11, 2008: B1.
  47. ↑ Compart, Andrew (November 8, 2008). "LaGuardia The Target In Southwest ATA Bid". aviationweek.com. The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Archived from the original on January 12, 2011. Retrieved January 12, 2011. Southwest Airlines has made a $7.5 million bid for ATA Airlines solely in order to obtain the dormant carrier's 14 slots at New York LaGuardia Airport...
  48. 1 2
  49. ↑ Ivanovich, David. "Inspector: Southwest's FAA ties let planes fly with cracks". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved April 3, 2008.
  50. ↑ CNN (March 12, 2008). "Southwest grounds planes, places three on leave". Retrieved March 12, 2008.
  51. ↑ Jerry Chandler (2009). "FAA Fines Southwest $7.5M for Safety Issues". Archived from the original on March 5, 2009. Retrieved April 1, 2009.
  52. ↑ Compart, Andrew (August 10, 2009). "Southwest Offers $170 Million For Frontier". aviationweek.com. The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Archived from the original on January 12, 2011. Retrieved January 12, 2011. Southwest said it submitted a bid of about $170 million for Frontier...
  53. ↑ Seetharaman, Deepa (August 14, 2009). "Republic wins Frontier auction over Southwest". Thomson Reuters. Reuters. Archived from the original on January 12, 2011. Retrieved January 12, 2011. Republic Airways Holdings (RJET.O) won its bid to buy bankrupt Frontier Airlines Holdings Inc FRNTQ.PK for $108.75 million after a day-long auction in bankruptcy court late Thursday.
  54. ↑ NY Times / The Associated Press (2009). "Southwest faces Tuesday deadline from FAA". The New York Times. Retrieved September 1, 2009.
  55. 1 2 Ranson, Lori (May 2, 2011). "Southwest closes AirTran acquisition". Flight International. Reed Business Information. Retrieved January 20, 2012. Southwest Airlines today formally closed its acquisition of AirTran Airways, setting the stage for historical consolidation in the US low cost airline industry.
  56. ↑ "Southwest Airlines And AirTran Airways Begin Connecting Networks – Southwest Airlines Newsroom". Swamedia.com. 2013-02-14. Retrieved 2013-06-20.
  57. ↑ "Southwest Airlines Announces New Flights for Dallas and D.C. Travelers". MarketWatch. 2014-05-19.
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  59. ↑ "Southwest Airlines Will Become Launch Customer for the New Boeing 737 Max Aircraft". Southwest Airlines. December 13, 2011. Retrieved January 26, 2012.
  60. ↑ Gutierrez, Gabe. "Southwest Airlines considers international flights from Hobby." KHOU. January 26, 2012. Retrieved on January 27, 2012.
  61. ↑ "City Council approves Hobby Airport expansion to allow Southwest international flights; United says it will cut jobs | abc13.com". Abclocal.go.com. May 30, 2012. Retrieved December 19, 2012.
  62. ↑ "Southwest gets Houston's OK for international service". Reuters. Retrieved December 19, 2012.
  63. ↑ "Southwest launches new international service at Houston Hobby Airport today". Airline Biz Blog.
  64. ↑ Whitney and Brooks (2012-04-28). "take-flight Video | Nuts About Southwest". Blogsouthwest.com. Retrieved 2013-07-29.
  65. ↑ "Southwest Airlines And Amadeus IT Group Sign Contract To Implement A Single Reservation System For Carrier's Operations". Yahoo Finance. May 5, 2014. Retrieved April 3, 2015.
  66. ↑ "Southwest Airlines Unveils Its New Look, Same Heart – Southwest News – Southwest Airlines Newsroom". swamedia.com. Retrieved April 3, 2015.
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  68. ↑ "It's A Fare-a-Buster! Southwest Airlines Gives DC Travelers New Routes And Low Fares – Southwest News – Southwest Airlines Newsroom". swamedia.com. Retrieved April 3, 2015.
  69. 1 2 "U.S. airlines chosen for scheduled flights to Cuba".
  70. ↑ "Southwest Airlines flight attendants overnighting in airports as operations meltdown drags on – Chicago Business Journal".
  71. ↑ "Southwest Airlines suffers second operational meltdown in just one week – Chicago Business Journal".
  72. ↑ "Final Update and Apology on Systemwide Outages". July 21, 2016.
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