SWA "Corporate" Flight Dept

[King Air Evac]

Just curious how Herb and Gary get around when they are out making deals and checking out new locations.

I wouldn't think that it is very cost effective to fly a 73 around with only a few people on board and besides it would be hard to keep a Southwest airplane showing up somewhere besides a Southwest gate low key.

I remember reading about an employee whose spouse was sick had a Lear Jet made available to them, but didn't know if this was an in house thing or if Southwest has a charter contract with someone.

 

[Sandhawk]

We used to haul Herb around in the back of a Lear 55 from time to time (that was back in the late 90s). Has to be one of THE nicest pax I've ever had on my plane!!

 

[N1atEcon]

As you probably know SWA managment is different from most. They don't have the big egos. They ride in the back to mingle with the customers and FA's or ride the jumpseat to mingle with the pilots. If they are flying to a place that we don't service then they fly on a another airline in the back. I think that is how "nuts " ends. Herb takes AA to LGA and gets in a cab after lighting up a smoke. Gotta love it...

 

[chase]

SWA doesn't own any corporate aircraft. I'm sure they are used in rare cases that make sense but it is very common to see all three of the top folks & others as well flying around the system on us...gives them a pulse of what is going on.

 

[SWA/FO]

SWA has chartered jets to fly sick/injured employees to hospitals for treatment. Fact.

 

[LJDRVR]

Herb is pretty cool. That's all I'm saying on the subject. Hey Sandhawk, how's training goin'? Give me call brutha...

 

[Russ]

Makes me wonder if any US airline of size has a corporate flight dept?
I remember years ago seeing a picture of an older piston freighter that a major operated to move engines and other oversize, time sensitive airline operation related cargo around. Anyone remember seeing anything like it?

 

[propsarebest]

Makes me wonder if any US airline of size has a corporate flight dept?
I remember years ago seeing a picture of an older piston freighter that a major operated to move engines and other oversize, time sensitive airline operation related cargo around. Anyone remember seeing anything like it?

Waaaaaaaay back when, TWA used to have a C-82 packet for just that reason, hauling engines around and stuff like that.

 

[Russ]

I think that might be the one, I thought TWA but wasn't sure enough to post it. I also remember it not being a DC series freighter. I wonder what happened to it and when?

 

[SWA/FO]

I got one!!!!

Fred Smith (FedEx) had a challenger N2FE a few years back.

 

[mdf]

FedEx actually has a pretty good size corp. flight dept. Several LJ-45's and Challengers. I have heard there is also flow through to the cargo side. I also hear that the dept. is fairly senior.

 

[gear_guy]

Delta owns the Delta AirElite fractional/charter company out of Cincinatti. Fed Ex probably has the largest fleet. Everything from Lears to Globals

 

[Bandit60]

Makes me wonder if any US airline of size has a corporate flight dept?
I remember years ago seeing a picture of an older piston freighter that a major operated to move engines and other oversize, time sensitive airline operation related cargo around. Anyone remember seeing anything like it?

FEDEX does if you consider them a US airline

 

[AA717driver]

propsarebest--Hey, that dog in your avatar looks like a greyhound after one of my landings! TC

 

[voteno]

I used to fly Herb in a hawker when they were buying Morris air. Also flew Colleen to Keene NH for Christmas back in 93 or 94. Very gracious and good people!

 

[enigma]

Delta owns the Delta AirElite fractional/charter company out of Cincinatti. Fed Ex probably has the largest fleet. Everything from Lears to Globals

aka, Comair's old charter department. But the last I checked, this operation was not in business to provide corporate jet service to Delta the parent. It was/is a charter/fractional operation that holds out to the public.

enigma