Rumors are flying: Will Southwest Airlines change the look of its planes?

[FlyAirtran]

Big announcement Monday?

http://aviationblog.dallasnews.com/...t-airlines-change-the-look-of-its-plane.html/

Rumors are flying: Will Southwest Airlines change the look of its planes?
By Sheryl Jean [email protected]
4:23 pm on September 5, 2014 | Permalink

Southwest Airlines and AirTran Airways' planes. (Stephen M. Keller/Southwest Airlines Co.)

Southwest Airlines has made many changes of late, so could the look of its planes be next?

That's what the rumor mill is churning out.

Aviation message boards, such as Airliners.net and FlyerTalk.com, are hopping with comments speculating Southwest will change the paint job on its planes for the first time since 2001.

If there's any truth to the rumors, Southwest isn't letting on.

UPDATE AT 4:45 P.M.: "I've seen no reports, only unfounded Internet speculation," said Southwest spokesman Brad Hawkins. "It's an exciting time at Southwest and we look forward to hearing what people think of our news on Monday."

But the Dallas-based airline is hosting "media days" on Monday and Tuesday, with a "special announcement" planned by CEO Gary Kelly on Monday morning. UPDATE AT 6:05 P.M.: And it just sent out an email notice about a companywide announcement at 9 a.m. Monday that people can watch via live video.

Aviation blog avgeekery.com posted five reasons why Southwest planes might be getting a new look, including: updating its image; the existing Canyon Blue paint fades fast and makes the plane?s interior warmer; and AirTran?s planes will need to be repainted this fall anyway. Southwest merged with AirTran in mid-2011.

But even some of the aviation geeks on the message boards are skeptical. Some say rumors about Southwest have started only because Frontier Airlines plans to unveil a new paint job for its planes on Tuesday.

 

[waveflyer]

Yep. New paint scheme. Not even a rumor past two weeks ago. If you fly for SWA you've already seen the pic. It's good- represents the change we've all seen.

New paint just doesn't really affect my life. In my career, new paint has been either irrelevant or a first sign of a bad career move I'd made the year before.

Tell me if that new paint actually symbolizes the growing of the REAL SWA- (you know, where we all have contracts and are generally happy) OR symbolizes our continued transformation into a legacy including the imbalance of contracts where executives enjoy nice incomes, bonuses, and security of new contracts, while labor works under the duress of being stretched out.

Here's the honest question that I want to know. If the FAA is so concerned about southwest being a "distressed carrier" why aren't they more worried about almost every labor group being in negotiations right now?
For years on end?
There is NO BIGGER DISTRACTION

I'm a middle of the road kool aid drinker, and can see how all these contracts getting stretched out are hurting us. Get fair deals done soon.

 

[Dash Power]

Seen one in the new paint for myself.

More than rumor.

 

[FurloughedAgain]

The pics that have been floating around are not exactly attractive. Hopefully it looks better on the airplane.

 

[Dash Power]

The pics that have been floating around are not exactly attractive. Hopefully it loos better on the airplane.

I agree. And it does.

 

[TMMT]

Can it be as bad as that abortion AA came up with?

 

[FurloughedAgain]

I didn't like AAs at first either - until I saw it on the stretch 777. It's good looking

 

[jonjuan]

Yep. New paint scheme. Not even a rumor past two weeks ago. If you fly for SWA you've already seen the pic. It's good- represents the change we've all seen.

New paint just doesn't really affect my life. In my career, new paint has been either irrelevant or a first sign of a bad career move I'd made the year before.

Tell me if that new paint actually symbolizes the growing of the REAL SWA- (you know, where we all have contracts and are generally happy) OR symbolizes our continued transformation into a legacy including the imbalance of contracts where executives enjoy nice incomes, bonuses, and security of new contracts, while labor works under the duress of being stretched out.

Here's the honest question that I want to know. If the FAA is so concerned about southwest being a "distressed carrier" why aren't they more worried about almost every labor group being in negotiations right now?
For years on end?
There is NO BIGGER DISTRACTION

I'm a middle of the road kool aid drinker, and can see how all these contracts getting stretched out are hurting us. Get fair deals done soon.

Gary ain't givin up the goods.

 

[PCL_128]

The pics that have been floating around are not exactly attractive. Hopefully it looks better on the airplane.

I can't imagine how it could look worse than the current purple monstrosity.

Something a little more understated, I hope?

 

[Luv2BFlyin]

If a new paint job is coming, as a legacy, we can be sure of more changes to come.

So this is what you do with a 15% ROI, will the new paint job make the airplane appear to grow?

 

[tzskipper]

 

[General Lee]

Does it have an Eskimo on the tail or a lady with flowers? Anything is better than the current version.


Bye Bye---General Lee

 

[Scoot 11]

That's actually not a bad looking paint job. Much better than the current.

 

[Ky.BrownBourbn]

Let's start a bring back the Corndog campaign! Changing airline paint schemes should be bad luck like changing Boat Names!

KBB

 

[Erlanger]

Here's the story and new paint for Southwest and Frontier is getting a new paint scheme too.

http://airwaysnews.com/blog/2014/09/06/new-southwest-and-frontier-liveries-leaked/

 

[Jim]

...as a legacy...

SWA is not a legacy airline.

 

[Ops check good]

Wow, that's ugly. I guess that's SWA's theme

 

[livin'thesim]

IKEA called - they want their colors back.

 

[KCSO780]

Inspiration was obtained from the "Hot Dog on a Stick" uniform.

http://www.minyanville.com/business...iform-hot-dog-on/1/27/2010/id/26014?page=full

 

[sfomarc]

That will be embarrassing to fly

 

[Capn Butthead]

I could care less about the color (not a big fan of the new one...but maybe it's better in person)...but they better do a new interior (maybe business class) or at least get rid of the evolve interior. We also need service and reservation changes to compete in the international market. If we want to compete we need to be on time (novel idea) and provide a comfortable and clean product.

 

[Mercyful Fate]

It is freaking paint. Paint schemes are something the social rejects worry about (genital lee comes to mind).

 

[FurloughedAgain]

Power outlets at each seat would be good business

 

[Grandpa +65]

New matching uniforms.

http://www.firstfoodbank.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/P1010008.jpg

 

[xkuzme1]

How many regional jets have will have that paint job... Uhmmmm, none. Best paint job ever!

X

 

[taxi1wire]

How many wide bodies in that paint job?
Ummmm......it needs some work!

 

[madjack]

You can have your widebody long haul flying...

 

[Blueridgeflyer]

Damn that looks sharp.

 

[Dan Roman]

You can have your widebody long haul flying...

Funny, there always seem to be a few pilots that always need to bash long haul flying. Different strokes for different folks. Personally I think flying one leg to most of the destinations we serve, spending the night (or night and day for the further destinations) and going home is a sweet deal. I have months were I fly to SYD , spend the night, go for a surf at Manly, take a nap and fly home. I'm gone 48 hrs total. Four times a month and I'm done.
That said it's just one type of flying. We all have our niches. I remember an AA guy on here that had a sweet deal flying to the Caribbean. I've done a little Europe flying. Great way to see Europe in way that's different from being a tourist for 2 weeks. Although that's fun too.
My job has been combining work with going on mini vacations. It works for me.
There's a big world out there beyond happy hours in hotel bars.

 

[Flywithmike]

I've done both types of flying and enjoy both. The long haul destinations/layovers are usually more interesting than the domestic stuff. Just a personal preference I suppose.

As for the new livery, my first impression is that its hideous! I think the current one is much classier. I'm sure it will look much better in person....at least I hope so.