Southwest CEO Planning International Codeshares

**Matt Molnar** · 09-19-2007, 02:48 PM

Southwest about to alter its course

The low-cost carrier may grow by forming alliances with airlines flying overseas routes.
By Peter Pae, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer
September 19, 2007

Since it took off more than three decades ago, Southwest Airlines Inc. has grown rapidly by bucking the industry, resisting assigned seating, in-flight meals and the temptation to expand overseas.

Now, facing rising costs, more competition from copycats and the prospect of slower domestic growth, the nation's largest low-cost carrier is planning to make its boldest move ever: Next year, Southwest will begin providing connecting domestic flights to passengers arriving in the U.S. on international airlines.

"We have to find a way to get our revenues up, and there are two basic ways to do it," Chief Executive Gary Kelly said in a recent interview, "higher fares or get more passengers per flight."

Barring higher fares, Southwest will aim for the latter. Eventually, the airline might even fly its own international routes, perhaps first to Mexico and Canada before taking on Asia and Europe. More...

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**RDU-JFK** · 09-19-2007, 03:19 PM

Interesting. Which airports have the best opportunites for int'l connections? PHL? LAX? MCO? I guess from these International Gateways that WN serves one can go pretty far in the system?

**cancidas** · 09-19-2007, 03:48 PM

well the NY market is out. i doubt that many international pax will fly in to JFK and take the rail road out to ISP to fly them. maybe this will be the beginning of WN's need to serve the more common cities. it would be interesting to see if they can operate on thier own in canada and mexico.

**Alex T** · 09-20-2007, 12:43 AM

We are looking at PHL, BWI for the East Coast and LAX for the west coast side. IAD isn't out of the question either because our gates at IAD are right next to most of the Intl Airlines at IAD which would provide easy connections.

We plan to offer intl connections starting in I believe 2009 with ATA into Mexico, then expand to intl airlines later on.

This certainly will be an exciting time! :)

Alex

**T-Bird76** · 09-20-2007, 06:30 AM

Originally Posted by cancidas

well the NY market is out. i doubt that many international pax will fly in to JFK and take the rail road out to ISP to fly them. maybe this will be the beginning of WN's need to serve the more common cities. it would be interesting to see if they can operate on thier own in canada and mexico.

Matt what is a common city? WN serves many common cities such as LAX, BWI, FLL, MCO, LAS, PHX, SEA, PHL, IAD, TPA or do you not consider then common cities? BTW take seat at the Ronkonkoma train station and take notice as to how many people DO travel to ISP from the city. You might be forgeting a little airline in Europe that serves some odd cities that people drive or take the train to fly them.......I think they are called RyanAir???

**lijk604** · 09-20-2007, 11:45 AM

SFO could be a gateway as well, being they have restarted service there. Between SFO & LAX you have the Pacific & Western Mexico covered, SEA covers Western Canada, BWI & PHL takes care of Europe & Eastern Canada and Florida takes care of South America & Eastern Mexico. Now, the real question, is who do they hook up with??

**hiss srq** · 09-20-2007, 05:38 PM

I think they are setting themselves up for a fight with UA, US, and AA if they set up shop in places like PHL, LAX and SFO.

**Alex T** · 09-20-2007, 05:40 PM

Originally Posted by hiss srq

I think they are setting themselves up for a fight with UA, US, and AA if they set up shop in places like PHL, LAX and SFO.

I HOPE you mean for connections, considering we already HAVE "Set up shop" in those places hahaha.

Alex

**hiss srq** · 09-20-2007, 05:50 PM

You have indeed set up shop but the lion shareo f the market will never be yours and yes Idid mean connections.

**Alex T** · 09-20-2007, 07:25 PM

Originally Posted by hiss srq

You have indeed set up shop but the lion shareo f the market will never be yours and yes Idid mean connections.

We have stole a lot of market share from US in PHL, and we are number 3 in LAX. As for SFO, still way way to early to tell.

We won't be number one most likely for any of these stations but we have stole a lot of passengers from the top airlines at those stations Tommy mentioned, plus PHL and LAX.

It will be interesting to see how it changes at SFO and once intl connections come aboard.

Alex

**hiss srq** · 09-20-2007, 07:42 PM

Who's going to be willing to give up lucrative alliances like star, one world and the others to go allign themselves with WN honestly? I do not think anyone would. No offense to all the WN fanatics, actually, I do not care either way but to me and to many others I know in the industry we view WN as a virus.

**Alex T** · 09-20-2007, 07:48 PM

Originally Posted by hiss srq

Who's going to be willing to give up lucrative alliances like star, one world and the others to go allign themselves with WN honestly? I do not think anyone would. No offense to all the WN fanatics, actually, I do not care either way but to me and to many others I know in the industry we view WN as a virus.

Who says they have to give up their alliance?

US interlines with HA and they didn't have to leave the Star Alliance for it did they?

Your also forgetting other smaller carriers, such as ZOOM, and Maxjet at LAS and IAD who could provide connections to WN at those stations.

I will say intl airlines have been asking to code share with us and vice versa, not saying it will happen.

Alex