Some current SWA facts

[chase]

Helpful Information:​

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• With the consumption of over one billion gallons of jet fuel in a year, a penny increase in jet fuel increases Southwest’s annual operating costs by more than $11 million.

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• 15 percent of our Customers check in online ​

• 31 percent of the new paint is done (estimated date of completion, 12-31-07) ​

• 72 percent of the interiors are done (estimated date of completion, 12-31-05) ​

• 62 percent of our aircraft have winglets ​

• SWABIZ saw an increase of 103 percent from August 2003 to August 2004 ​

• Approx. 40 percent of Fortune 500 companies are currently enrolled in SWABIZ. ​

• Southwest’s net income for the fourth quarter of 2004 was $56 million, compared to the fourth quarter of 2003 net income of $66 million.
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• Load factor for the fourth quarter of 2004 was 65 percent versus the third quarter of 2003 load factor of 64 percent.
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• Net income for 2004 was $313 million compared to net income for 2003, which was $442 mllion. ​

• Southwest’s hedging program saved us $41 million in 4Q03. ​

• For 1Q05, we are approximately 85 percent hedged with caps around $26/barrel. ​

• For the remainder of 2005, we are 85 percent hedged with caps around $26/barrel. ​

• For 2006, we are approximately 65 percent hedged at around $32/barrel. ​

• For 2007, we are more than 45 percent hedged at around $31/barrel. ​

• For 2008, we are approximately 30 percent hedged at around $33/barrel. ​

• For 2009, we are more than 25 percent hedged at around $35/barrel. ​

• December ASMs increased 12.2 percent to 6.2 billion from 6 billion in December 2003. ​

• December 2004 load factor was 64.0 percent compared to 62.9 percent for December 2003. ​

• Southwest’s longest flights: BWI-SJC, 2438 miles, 6:25 hours; MHT-LAS, 2356 miles, 6:10 hours; PVD-PHX, 2277 miles, 6:00 hours; BWI-LAX, 2329 miles, 5:50 hours; BWI-SAN, 2295 miles, 5:50 hours.
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• Fleet: 419 aircraft ​

• For 2005 we’ll net 29 aircraft. ​

• For 2006 we’ll net 34 aircraft. ​

• More than 85 percent of tickets are Ticketless. ​

• 17 percent of Southwest’s revenue comes from travel agents. ​

• 23 percent of Southwest’s revenue comes from SWA Reservations. ​

• 57 percent of Southwest’s revenue comes from southwest.com ​

• 3 percent of Southwest tickets are booked by other means (station sales, etc.). ​

• Southwest offers the most domestic flights of any airline. For example, in September 2003, Southwest flew almost 80,000 flights, about 18,000 more than its closest competitor.

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[crudzilla]

Impressive!

Chase,

Thanks for your always candid remarks. Some numbers are great, others average, but all honest. Other airlines will do better than SWA, but with the addition of "Plane Smart Business" to our repertoire--I actually understand the consequences of these numbers! Your last remark is the most telling--I, for one, will work to keep SWA on the track of success. It's all about LUV!!

'Zilla

 

[Shake A Leg]

Excellent info - especially for us military guys with less of a clue about airline operations than we let on


Remember: Win if you can, lose if you must, but always cheat!

 

[jhill]

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Nice job.

 

[FlyBoeingJets]

AWESOME, I like to see the facts.

I have noticed some wrong things being posted about SWA.

Like--

"JetBlue made money without hedging, unlike SWA who needed the hedging"

JetBlue uses fuel hedges, just not as much.

"SWA will stop classes in March"

SWA still has to hire 400+ this year for retirements and 29 planes. SWA already runs too lean to not hire. A temporary (month or two) slowdown is possible but a steady stream is assured unless jets get parked in the desert.


Chase you are the king of factual good news, keep it up.

 

[Captain Overs]

Is anybody concerned about the growth of SWA? If you study airline history it seems when airlines get to big and stretch thin they get into trouble. At some point the growth has to stop. Anyone who knows the economics of an airline can tell you as long as there is expansion an airline makes money. I've been reading some posts here lately that disturb me. Some people think that Southwest is "untouchable" and since it has been sucessful for 30+ years it will continue. I'm sure if you had a time machine and could travel back to 1965 you could win many bets on betting that TWA, Eastern, Pan Am, and Braniff would someday cease to exsist.

 

[FlyBoeingJets]

Captain Overs,


You hit the nail on the head. For some reason when costs relative to revenue get out of control everyone points at someone else. No one wants to "take it in the shorts" to solve the issue. Maybe its human nature.

Is SWA immune, no. Will they work thru upcoming challenges, I think so. But the outcome is never certain.

 

[chase]

JHill,

I believe you are correct...the numbers are reversed.......thanks for keeping me straight (which is a full time job!!)...hope the info is useful. I made the changes!!! cheers

 

[T1bubba]

Minor point, but we dropped BWI-SJC a few weeks ago. I believe the longest flight now is PHL-OAK.

Keep up the great posts Chase!

 

[Steeler Fan]

Remember: Win if you can, lose if you must, but always cheat!

Does this mean that you're enrolled in ACSC??

 

[jetexas]

Any idea on what turbine PIC time SWA is looking for? I've just broken 1000 turbine PIC, having been stuck at eagle for 7 years now. I have mucho TT, just low turbine PIC. I keep hearing its 1800 to be 'competitive'. I have just been displaced back to FO and will not, in any foreseeable time, get that much PIC.

 

[SWA/FO]

Apply.......and find out

 

[CandyMan]

Just to add one more Point to your thoughts:
Safety Record at SWA 100%
Never been any passengers hurt in an accident at SWA
Thats one heck of an accomplishment right there

 

[jetexas]

Apply.......and find out

Good point. Will do!

 

[Captain Overs]

It hasn't been for lack of trying. They were lucky a few years ago when the pilots pulled into the gas station in Burbank.