SWA Plans Adding 25 International Flights from FLL

[Flopgut]

Yeah, it's the Caribbean, but an airline still has to demonstrate some discipline. Often too an airline has to start with a limited number if routes and build up the operation.

Not too many years ago, a Venezuelan carrier lost it's authorization to fly into the US. Operationally they were not sound, at least that was the reasoning. Venezuela turned around and shut out CAL and AA immediately. US officials drug the Venezuelans thru a mile of crap before the reciprocal agreement was restored. It got to the point AA stepped in and helped Venezuelan carrier. We have all now learned that SWA can't manage to formulate an ETOPS program. If what most carriers have to do to be awarded routes like this is applied to SWA, are they going to pass? Is SWA going to jeopardize bi lateral agreements for all US airlines? Is United, American or Delta going to have to step in and assist SWA? Or do we lower the standards?

 

[Flopgut]

When SWA put out a list of possible destinations out of Hobby it was clear they knew the highest revenue routes. 1, 2, 3 were each the best money makers, but have they considered at all *how* to get there? Hobby terminal is being built and the routes aren't even announced. It's almost time to start selling the tickets... Something is up.

 

[Saluki Dawg]

When SWA put out a list of possible destinations out of Hobby it was clear they knew the highest revenue routes. 1, 2, 3 were each the best money makers, but have they considered at all *how* to get there? Hobby terminal is being built and the routes aren't even announced. It's almost time to start selling the tickets... Something is up.

What are you talking about? The new terminal won't be finished until late 2015. I think they've got plenty of time.

 

[Flopgut]

Some plans can't be written on a napkin

 

[redflyer65]

Yeah, it's the Caribbean, but an airline still has to demonstrate some discipline. Often too an airline has to start with a limited number if routes and build up the operation.

Not too many years ago, a Venezuelan carrier lost it's authorization to fly into the US. Operationally they were not sound, at least that was the reasoning. Venezuela turned around and shut out CAL and AA immediately. US officials drug the Venezuelans thru a mile of crap before the reciprocal agreement was restored. It got to the point AA stepped in and helped Venezuelan carrier. We have all now learned that SWA can't manage to formulate an ETOPS program. If what most carriers have to do to be awarded routes like this is applied to SWA, are they going to pass? Is SWA going to jeopardize bi lateral agreements for all US airlines? Is United, American or Delta going to have to step in and assist SWA? Or do we lower the standards?

Wow Flop. Could you be anymore dramatic? I seriously wonder how we get planes off the ground everyday after reading your BS.

 

[Flopgut]

Is your etops program failure BS? Seriously, tell me that's not true because the airplane has been doing it for a very long time. Waiting for your answer Red...

 

[redflyer65]

ETOPS program failure? Wrong. We never did anything close to ETOPS proving runs. Why don't you pull up the Flightaware (or anyother software you'd like) that showed us going that far to get signed off on ETOPS. You can't so you just make it up.........so yes, your whole hypothesis is complete BS.

 

[Flopgut]

You never got close to do the proving runs, but you started working on etops in 2010.

http://aviationblog.dallasnews.com/2010/12/southwest-airlines-looking-for.html/

 

[redflyer65]

Wow. Smoking gun Flop. Again, your arguments against our airline are all weak, I'm sorry. So starting a fledgling approach at looking at ETOPS is a 'failure'? Kind of a stretch isn't it? Again, you have know idea of what your talking about so you decide to throw as much Sh!t against the Southwest wall to see what sticks. That's all you have. It's all you've ever had.

Your outrage at everything Southwest is the only thing you bring to any of these threads. Plenty of black helicopters and side deals that only happened in your imagination though.

 

[Flopgut]

http://aviationblog.dallasnews.com/2011/08/southwest-airlines-will-be-rea.html/

?I think we?ll be ready in terms of our preparedness for Hawaii by 2013,? Kelly said. ?Whether we will fly then or ever is a different decision and a different discussion. Today we really don?t have the capabilities to do that. Tomorrow we will.?



If you'll be ready by 2013, you better hurry!

 

[HowardBorden]

You never got close to do the proving runs, but you started working on etops in 2010.

http://aviationblog.dallasnews.com/2010/12/southwest-airlines-looking-for.html/

You do realize that once you receive ETOPS certification you need to use it to keep the authorization active, right? If you don't have any ETOPS destinations in your route structure you aren't able to use it. As Hawaii plans changed so did the need for ETOPS.

 

[redflyer65]

Flop,

If you'd do a little more research, you'd find they decided higher demand for profit was in the Caribbean, but that doesn't fit into your argument. It's been stated on this forum as early as late spring 2013.

You only believe what you want to believe, so I'm done chasing down rabbit holes with you.

 

[SWA Bubba]

http://aviationblog.dallasnews.com/2011/08/southwest-airlines-will-be-rea.html/

?I think we?ll be ready in terms of our preparedness for Hawaii by 2013,? Kelly said. ?Whether we will fly then or ever is a different decision and a different discussion. Today we really don?t have the capabilities to do that. Tomorrow we will.?



If you'll be ready by 2013, you better hurry!

Actually, all the blocks were in place to be ready to actually commence Hawaii operations this year, but subsequent to the timing of your quote above, GK changed his mind and focus. ETOPS to Hawaii was shifted to the back burner, and the focus became international operations. There's much more money to be made there.

Are you really insinuating that Southwest wasn't able to take a proven ETOPS-capable and certified aircraft, and make flights to Hawaii work? Is that your idea of an insult? What are you, in the fifth grade? GK is all about money and maximizing return for each asset, and there's a much higher profit margin on international operations. So much so, that GK invested $100 million of SWA's own money to fund a new international terminal at Hobby. Certainly you remember that discussion, Flop. Now he's committing to international operations out of FLL as well (rumor has it that MCO was too expensive). He wants to go south of the border for all that money in a big way.

Having said all that however, personally, I think the real reason that GK changed his mind is that he read too many of these FI threads. He realized that if he built a new terminal at Hobby and challenged Unical in "their" city, that he would be able to push you over the edge, Flop. It was well worth the money!

Bubba

 

[Flopgut]

You only believe what you want to believe, so I'm done chasing down rabbit holes with you.

I only want to see SWA have to meet the same standards every other airline has to. Historically that has not been the case.

How can you announce these new flights and no destinations? Suggests to me you're not participating in the traditional process and waiting instead for some political maneuver that gifts it to you.

 

[Flopgut]

Are you really insinuating that Southwest wasn't able to take a proven ETOPS-capable and certified aircraft, and make flights to Hawaii work?

Yes. That is what I'm saying. It's easier for SWA to spend 100 million on an airport stunt than it is to get etops correct. Now we see a potential trick play on destinations because you don't want to play by the same rules every other airline does.