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WN to ground 190 flights

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jonjuan

Honey Ryder
Joined
Feb 26, 2004
Posts
4,155
http://money.cnn.com/2008/08/26/new..._cutbacks.ap/index.htm?postversion=2008082611


Southwest to ground 190 flights this winter
Southwest Airlines to cut 190 flights from winter schedule
August 26, 2008: 10:34 AM EST


NEW YORK (Associated Press) - Southwest Airlines Co., which had resisted the kinds of capacity cuts being made by other carriers, will eliminate nearly 200 flights early next year as it struggles with high fuel costs and a weakening economy.
The move raised doubts about the company's publicly stated goal of growing modestly in 2009 despite the airline industry's troubles.
Now, Southwest will cut 196 flights while adding only six new ones in its schedule that takes effect Jan. 11.
That is nearly 6 percent of the airline's daily schedule of close to 3,400 flights.
Southwest spokesman Chris Mainz said Tuesday that some of the eliminated flights, which span Southwest's nationwide network, could be restored later in 2009. Late winter is typically a slow travel period.
"This is a response to a slower traffic period, and we're giving ourselves some operational flexibility in the winter months," he said.
Southwest is better insulated than its rivals from high jet fuel prices because it bought options to get most of its fuel at below-market prices. Still, the airline's fuel bill has been rising, eating into margins at the most consistently profitable U.S. carrier.
Chairman and Chief Executive Gary Kelly said in June that the Dallas-based low-cost carrier hoped to grow modestly in 2009. But he tempered that outlook by saying the expansion plans could be scrapped if oil prices remain high or the economy weakens.
At the time, Kelly said Southwest still planned to add 14 new planes next year. Mainz said Tuesday that new planes will be added while older aircraft are retired, keeping the airline's fleet "relatively flat." Southwest has about 530 jets, all Boeing 737s.
Southwest is the only major U.S. carrier to earn a profit in the first half of the year _ it has not lost money in a quarter since early 1991. Like other carriers, Southwest has been raising fares to offset rising fuel prices, and Kelly has said more increases are likely.
Southwest serves more than 60 U.S. airports and is not leaving any of them under the new schedule. But it is ending some nonstop service, such as that between Nashville, Tenn., and Oakland, Calif. The carrier is mainly reducing the frequency of flights on routes across its network.
The airline will add six new flights; round trips between Phoenix and Burbank, Calif., Las Vegas and Orange County, Calif., and Baltimore and Orlando, Fla.
Southwest's reduction of nearly 6 percent is still far smaller than capacity cutbacks at other U.S. airlines.
American Airlines, the nation's largest carrier, is cutting about 8 percent of capacity after Labor Day _ and up to 12 percent of its domestic flying. United Airlines expects to cut domestic capacity about 16 percent, and Delta, Northwest and Continental also have announced cuts.
The airlines are grounding planes and laying off thousands of workers to save money in the face of higher fuel bills.
The Air Transport Association, a trade group for the big carriers, expects U.S. airlines to spend $61.2 billion this year on fuel, up from $41.2 billion last year.
 
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Well, it took a few years, but like the rest of us, the economy and gas prices are finally catching up to you all. The chickens are finally come home to roost. Did you really think your growth could last forever??

How’s your decision on Age 65 looking now? Maybe you all can finally understand how Age 65 screwed the rest of us.

AA767AV8TOR
 
Well, it took a few years, but like the rest of us, the economy and gas prices are finally catching up to you all. The chickens are finally come home to roost. Did you really think your growth could last forever??

How’s your decision on Age 65 looking now? Maybe you all can finally understand how Age 65 screwed the rest of us.

AA767AV8TOR
You haters are idiots. I bet you long on everyday looking for more news of the demise of the aviation industry. Tear the heads off your stuffed animals yet?
 
Well, it took a few years, but like the rest of us, the economy and gas prices are finally catching up to you all. The chickens are finally come home to roost. Did you really think your growth could last forever??

How’s your decision on Age 65 looking now? Maybe you all can finally understand how Age 65 screwed the rest of us.

AA767AV8TOR

It's called the winter schedule ding bat.
 
Well, it took a few years, but like the rest of us, the economy and gas prices are finally catching up to you all. The chickens are finally come home to roost. Did you really think your growth could last forever??

How’s your decision on Age 65 looking now? Maybe you all can finally understand how Age 65 screwed the rest of us.

AA767AV8TOR

Just another happy AA pilot. Even during the best of times you guys are just depressing. Its not your fault, its your culture.
 
Well, it took a few years, but like the rest of us, the economy and gas prices are finally catching up to you all. The chickens are finally come home to roost. Did you really think your growth could last forever??

How’s your decision on Age 65 looking now? Maybe you all can finally understand how Age 65 screwed the rest of us.

AA767AV8TOR

Didn't congress pass that? I didn't know it was a SWA decision...........learn something new everyday!
 
It also wasnt SWAPA that gave it the final push either. They arent grounding anything, but rearranging the schedule for winter. It happens every year. Your AA management might want to actual run an airline instead of taking their money and running.
 

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