Articles tagged “southwest airlines”

Southwest has known for years that there is money to be made in differentiation and protecting your brand identity regardless of what Wall Street thinks. That's a factor in its decision not to launch basic economy or bag fees.

Southwest has perennially been a thorn in the side of online travel companies that lusted after getting access to its flights and fares. But no one can credibly argue that Southwest's insistence on direct distribution hasn't worked for the airline. Its competitors and peers inside and outside of the airline industry can only be jealous.

Will JetBlue expand to Europe? It's not clear. There are some strong reasons for, and some strong reasons against. The good news: The airline plans to share its decision at some point this year.

Herb Kelleher changed how airlines all over the world operate by building a behemoth low-cost carrier. He will be missed.

Southwest has been stingy with the details here. Why did it sever a contract with one of its two Wi-Fi providers? Was it because the platform had spotty service? Or was there another reason?

Florida is a giant market for U.S. and even some non-U.S. airlines, with tourism, population, and economy all growing. But for some carriers, it’s a chief determinant of their financial performance.

It has been a long time since Los Angeles International Airport has seen real gate growth. It's nice to see the airport considering some expansion.

Given Southwest's track record and strong balance sheet, some analysts wonder why the airline keeps hedging fuel. But the airline is sticking with its strategy.

Hawaii has been a profitable niche for Alaska Airlines for a long time. But now the market is under siege. Competitors want their slice of the profits.

There's no way around it: Southwest's new emphasis on cost-containment, productivity gains, and other efficiencies doesn't provide an optimistic outlook for passenger experience. It should make Southwest a more profitable airline — if passengers go along for the ride.