Welcome to Flightinfo.com

  • Register now and join the discussion
  • Friendliest aviation Ccmmunity on the web
  • Modern site for PC's, Phones, Tablets - no 3rd party apps required
  • Ask questions, help others, promote aviation
  • Share the passion for aviation
  • Invite everyone to Flightinfo.com and let's have fun

SWA delaying new planes, adding used Westjet birds --article

Welcome to Flightinfo.com

  • Register now and join the discussion
  • Modern secure site, no 3rd party apps required
  • Invite your friends
  • Share the passion of aviation
  • Friendliest aviation community on the web

General Lee

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 24, 2002
Posts
20,442
Southwest to save by delaying delivery of planes
Associated Press - 2 hrs ago


DALLAS (AP) -- Southwest Airlines Co. is delaying delivery of new airplanes and filling the gap with used planes to reduce spending over the next five years.
It's also raising its dividend and could soon buy back more of its own shares.
Southwest said Wednesday that it will delay 30 firm orders for Boeing 737 jets, which CEO Gary Kelly said would cut ca pital spending through 2018 by more than $500 million. The airline is also giving up or delaying options for additional planes.

Meanwhile Southwest will buy 10 used 737s from Canada's WestJet over the next two years. They average about 11 or 12 years old and should bide Southwest over until Boeing begins producing a new, more fuel-efficient 737 model called the Max late in this decade, Southwest officials said.

The airline isn't disclosing financial details of the Boeing and WestJet deals, which were announced at the Dallas company's annual meeting.

Southwest is raising the quarterly dividend due on June 26 to 4 cents per share, up from a penny per share. It's also boosting share-buyback authority to $1.5 billion from $1 billion. The company has bought $725 million in its own stock since August 2011.....




Good or bad for you guys? Used planes are popular these days, that's for sure! Hopefully the 10 Westjet birds will be growth for you guys, right? I think they may have Live TV installed already?



Bye Bye---General Lee
 
Last edited:
GL

Yes those airplanes are going to be used for our explosive growth in to LBB! We tried to get a crew base there but the company didn't want to take that overnight from us so we are just going to rapidly expand our presence there. It just gets better every day!
 
A very solid financial move.

They can buy 2 used planes for the cost of one new one. They are just stretching their legs toward the release of the Max.

Getting more 800's next year (switched the 700 to the 800) and released some options to buy used.

Adding another 500 million to a already working 1 Billion dollar share buyback to total 1.5 Billion.

Quadrupled the dividend. Brings the yeild up to 1%.

Agressive capital management. Exactly what the Board should be doing.
 
Used to hear JB/SW marriage but recently its all been Alaska rumors. Any Eskimos hearing anything similar?
 
Good news! Get planes from under the Artic ice for all I care. Nothing will soothe over bad feelings for everyone involved better than good solid growth.
 
I have not even heard a whisper of LUV of late. I got to be honest someone would have to pay 5.3 billion to get ALK right now... No one is going to pay that. That is half of LUV'S current market cap. How does anyone over at LUV think you guys are going to pull this off? Why would you want it..what a mess that would be. It would have to be a magic stock swap with the ALK board really wanting the deal. Something they swear they don't want. If you are buying I would bet blue
 
4.6B market cap... I think it would have happened when we were worth about 1.8b a few years ago..???

Exactly, a few years ago before the stock took off and they had extra cash, people in the financial community couldn't believe Alaska wasn't getting purchased. No longer is that the case with the current price of the stock. Besides, Alaska is doing so well right now on it's own. Why screw up a good thing?
 
The minute you painted blurple over the eskimo, all of Alaskas loyal customers would boycott Southwest in protest. They would eventually get over it, but all of that good will would be gone.
 
Good news! Get planes from under the Artic ice for all I care. Nothing will soothe over bad feelings for everyone involved better than good solid growth.

I haven't looked at the numbers but from my reading comprehension level it sounds like a continuing flat fleet vice growth. Anyone run the numbers to see the effect on the fleet?

I do agree it is a good move to get used -700s while dumping the -300s and begin planning for the -MAX.

Phred
 
You guys gonna staple Alaska too? Hiding behind GKs cape?
 
I haven't looked at the numbers but from my reading comprehension level it sounds like a continuing flat fleet vice growth. Anyone run the numbers to see the effect on the fleet?

I do agree it is a good move to get used -700s while dumping the -300s and begin planning for the -MAX.

Phred

Yeah, you are right. I just read the email regarding flat growth.
 
I haven't looked at the numbers but from my reading comprehension level it sounds like a continuing flat fleet vice growth. Anyone run the numbers to see the effect on the fleet?

I do agree it is a good move to get used -700s while dumping the -300s and begin planning for the -MAX.

Phred
Original Fleet Modernization Plan:

2014: 24 B737-800s and 5 B737-700s
2015: 36 B737-700s

Revised Plan:

2014: 34 B737-800s
2015: 36 B737-700s
2014-2015: 10 Used B737-700s

Net result is 15 additional B737NGs coming through the end of 2015. The question remains how many of the 140 or so B737 Classics get retired by the end of 2015. Supposedly 88 B737 Classics are to get the Evolve interior last I heard. I would imagine there will be a SEC filing with the new delivery table filed over the next few days.
 
The 90 airframes coming basically replace the 88 717s leaving. Last I asked (both SWAPA and Mgt) SWA will be down to less than 100 classics by the end of 2015. Word is that these 50 ish airframes will be replaced by pre owned NGs. This gives them a lot of flexability to "right size" the fleet if they decide we have too much capacity after "agressive optimization"
 
Last edited:
Just my opinion, but I think we will see more of this maneuvering.

Especially purchasing or sub-leasing used 737-700's. Just the beginning.
 
The minute you painted blurple over the eskimo, all of Alaskas loyal customers would boycott Southwest in protest. They would eventually get over it, but all of that good will would be gone.
all fifty of them?
The goodwill of a customer lasts until they can Internet click a cheaper or more convenient fare. Even Gary understands that fact.
 

Latest resources

Back
Top