Southwest Says EU/S.America Rtes Coming After Canada/Mexico

[Matt Molnar]

ATW:

Southwest targets Europe, South America with long-haul low-cost model
Wednesday September 16, 2009
Resource Center

Southwest Airlines plans to open international routes to Europe and South America, although so far there is "no timetable" for the move, Director-Network Strategic Planning Lee Lipton told ATWOnline at the World Route Development Forum in Beijing.

"Europe and South America are our first choice. . .but currently we are still evaluating our options," Lipton said. Southwest Chairman, President and CEO Gary Kelly said last month that the LCC is "seriously considering" operating international flights to Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean as soon as 2011 (ATWOnline, Aug. 21).

Lipton told this website he is confident that the "low-cost, long-haul" business model can work for the carrier "just as AirAsia X and Jetstar have achieved success," adding, "it could even become a trend for LCCs in the coming days." [Full Article]

[T-Bird76]

The only reason they are considering it is because their pilots cried foul over WN's plan for Intl codeshares.. i.e the Westjet Code share. WN pilots want WN metal on the intl routes and not a code share agreement. With their own metal flying Intl routes it more money for the crews.

[moose135]

ISP to LHR in a 737 - better make sure you get that "A" boarding pass :shock:

[Matt Molnar]

There could be some 787 slots available. :-)

[Alex T]

Not Happening...

WN's spokesperson was taken out of context.

If you re click the article link, the article has been revised to CORRECTLY state what WN was saying.

http://www.atwonline.com/news/story.html?storyID=17892

This is the link.

Alex

[JetBlueAirwaysFan]

WN has a long way to go before doing this. What really stinks for Southwest is that they cannot operate international flights from Love Field even after the full effects of the Wright Compromise goes into action in 2014, IIRC.

[Matt Molnar]

I think at some point soon, shareholders will demand int'l service. Southwest will begin to run out of new domestic routes that they can run efficiently within their business model, and the only way to achieve growth will be to reach across borders and overseas.