Difference between revisions of "Southwest.com"

Southwest Airlines

Southwest Airlines, Inc. is a low fare airline based in Dallas, Texas and the largest airline in the United States. It is rated number one with respect to the number of domestic passengers carried in a year and also recognized as the second largest airline in the world with respect to the number of passengers carried. As issued by the U.S. Department of Transportation, for the first time in 2006, Southwest Airlines topped the monthly list for combined domestic and international passengers. In addition to this, having posted a consecutive profit for the 34th year in 2007, Southwest Airlines has been rated as one of the world's most profitable airlines. Low prices and laid-back atmosphere have accounted for the popularity of the company.

The company was born in 1967 through innovative ideas of Rollin King and Herb Kelleher to start a different kind of unique airline by offering a punctual, comfortable and economic air transport to passengers. Thus beginning as a small Texas airline, the company has grown over these years as one of the largest airlines of the nation.

Company Profile

Southwest Airlines Co. is engaged in providing scheduled air transportation services in the United States. Towards the end of 2006, the company was operating 481 Boeing 737 aircrafts covering transport services to 63 cities in 32 states. The company also sells credit to business partners, comprising credit card companies, hotels, telecommunication companies, and car rental agencies. In 2006, the company extended its operations to Denver, Colorado, and Washington Dulles International Airport.

The principal focus of the company is on point-to-point service, rather than hub-and-spoke service. The company serves more than 397 non-stop city pairs benefiting 79% of its customers with this non-stop service. The main concerns of the company are short-haul routes with high frequencies. In addition to this, the company also provides more medium to long-haul routes, including transcontinental service.

In 1988, Southwest Airlines was the first airline company to win triple crown for a month—Best On-time Record, Best Baggage Handling, and Fewest Customer Complaints. The company won this more than thirty times in addition to five annual triple crowns for the years 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, and 1996.

To its credit, Southwest Airlines has about 481 aircrafts comprising one of the youngest fleet of the nation with a rough average age of nine years.

One of the best innovative business strategies of Southwest Airlines is frequent flyer program that credits the number of trips taken. The company also has pioneered senior discounts, Fun Fares, Fun Packs, a same-day airfreight delivery service, ticket-less travel, and several other unique and attractive schemes.

Southwest Airlines is a publicly traded company listed in the New York Stock Exchange with a ticker symbol LUV. The annual sales of the company are over $9,086.0 millions with annual sales growth of 19.8%. The company’s net income is $499.0 millions. The company has employed more than 32,664 people with annual employee growth of 2.9%.

The Fortune Magazine calls Southwest Airlines "the most successful airline in history." The company is highly commended for its excellent management practices. The most amazing aspect of the company is that the market value of the company is greater than the rest of the U.S. airline industry combined. The achievement of the company in the flying industry is ably complimented by James L. Heskett, Baker Foundation Professor, Harvard Business School in his wonderful book where he describes how one organization can change the competitive rules of the game for an entire industry.

Website

The official website of the company is Southwest.com. Besides containing detailed information about its profile, products and services, and business information, the site provides online travel booking facilities. For more information regarding the company, market research findings and media information, the sites listed under references and additional readings can be consulted.

Contact

Southwest Airlines

Phone: 214-792-4000

Fax: 214-792-5015

Address

P.O. Box 36647

2702 Love Field Dr.

Dallas, Texas 75235-1647

Discussion

Languages

English

Related Domains

External Links

• Stock: LUV
• Alexa: Southwest.com

References

• Southwest.com
• Wikipedia
• Hoovers.com
• Amazon.com
• Google Finance