SWA Buys/Retirements for Aircraft

[chase]

2003

All retirements occur from Sep-Dec -- Total of 6 Remaining are 21

2004

Retirements begin Mar & total 13 for the year. Remaining at the end of '04 will be 8

2005

The remaining 8 aircraft will be retired by end of 2qtr'05

New aircraft purchases, options


Delivery Yr FIRM ORDERS OPTIONS PURCHASE RIGHTS
------------- ----------- ------- ---------------
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2003 17 - -
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2004 23 11 -
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2005 24 18 -
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2006 22 16 -
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2007 25 9 20
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2008-2012 6 25 197
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TOTALS 117 79 217

 

[Cruiser]

Chase -

Are these all new purchases, or potential "new" buys from liquidating airlines as they come available...or perhaps additions to the "cut-rate deals" should they become available?

 

[intel33]

I couldn't find the numbers, but what is the break down by model of Southwest's planes?

Are these retirements all 200s? Will that be all of them?

 

[canyonblue]

Southwest currently operates 375 Boeing 737 jets (as of December 31, 2002).

TYPE............NUMBER.........SEATS
737-200..........27................122
737-300..........194..............137
737-500..........25................122
737-700..........129..............137

The Company's fleet has an average age of about nine years.

The average aircraft trip length is 537 miles with an average duration of about one and one-half hours for 2002.

Southwest aircraft fly an average of about 7.2 flights per day, or about 12 hours per day.

Southwest was the launch customer for the Boeing 737-700 in 1997. Southwest was also a launch customer for the Boeing 737-500 and -300 series aircraft.

Southwest will update its traditional gold, red and orange paint scheme by adding canyon blue. All new aircraft will have the updated colors and interior. Existing aircraft will be retrofitted over time.

 

[chase]

Intel33

All retirements are in the -200. I don't know of a plan for the 300 but I'm sure someone is looking at that.

All purchases are for NEW -700S. There is always speculation about purchases from defunct airlines but that is all conjecture.

 

[Sierra-Hotel]

Re: Intel33

All purchases are for NEW -700S. There is always speculation about purchases from defunct airlines but that is all conjecture.

Just like the rumor that SWA was buying the ex-JI -700s after they showed up at DAL. I swear us SWA people gossip more than teenage girls!

 

[chase]

SH,

You're right. I remember when that one was floating around. SWA was being paid by the leasor of the planes to store them in DAL. that didn't keep the rumors from flying though!!

 

[MLBWINGBORN]

While working for Midway the two biggest rumors going around for several months was SWA buying JI and moving into terminal "C" in RDU and we all would have SWA senority #s..

And we all know how that one turned out..

During the last days at JI we all used to sit around and start a really good rumor and see how long it would take to get back to its source..The rule was that you would have to state that you had started it once it made the rounds..

Fun while it lasted....

But in the end we all got it wrong and ended up being filmed by the local news channels as the county police stood buy while we turned in our stuff to be told we owed the company money..

Me..Bitter?...Naw!!

It just makes it easier to realize how lucky i am to be working for an airline still taking planes for the next several years..

It just keeps getting better all the time..

Mike

 

[Sierra-Hotel]

But you have got to admit....the SWA grapevine is one of the most effective ways to get info around! You could start a rumor at one station at 6 am and by noon the entire system knows. Of course it usually "I heard for someone in BWI Ops who heard from a cousin in MSY Provo who has a friend in DAL CS who knows a janitor in HDQ" type stuff. It's really fun trying to figure out if it's fact or fiction. Remember the "America One" rumor....the on when SWA was gonna paint a airplane like the US Flag. Even after Collen stated in LUV Lines that it wasn't gonna happen...I still heard the rumor from my friends at SEA! See you guys are making me all misty eyed remembering all this stuff......so I'm gonna start a rumor for old time sake. True or False....you guys are getting autothrottles....I heard True. Let the rumors begin

 

[MLBWINGBORN]

And no!!!

I dont have to admit to anything!!

One of the many privillages of being an old fart!!

But..The only thing faster than a ten minute turn at SWA is the rumor of when we are moving to DEN!!

Mike

 

[Sierra-Hotel]

The only thing faster than a ten minute turn at SWA is the rumor of when we are moving to DEN!!

You mean Colorado Springs dont'cha? Or how about Allentown! Want to start big rumor.......just say you saw Herb lookin at gates in (name of city)!

I always love when we do charters to offline cities....because all of a sudden the rumor is that SWA will start service there!

Let's see if I can come up with another rumor: SWA will have 700 airplanes by 2012! Truthfully I really hope that one will not be a rumor so you "old farts" can upgrade and let us rookies get hired!