HowardBorden
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Southwest Airlines chief executive Gary Kelly said today that the airline has an opportunity to add up to 50 new destinations over the next few years as it continues to grow.
?We have a very exciting opportunity over the next few years,? Kelly told an audience of more than 100 people at the company?s annual shareholder meeting today in Dallas. ?With the repeal of the Wright Amendment, we have a chance to grow beyond what we?ve already announced.?
He was referring to the expiration on Oct. 13 of flight restrictions under the Wright Amendment, which will let airlines at Dallas Love Field fly nonstop to any other U.S. airport. The Dallas-based airline leases 16 of the 20 gates at Love Field, with 12 active now and four that will open by Oct. 13.
In February, Southwest said it plans to start nonstop service from Dallas Love Field to 15 cities after Oct. 13, but it has not yet announced the number of flights or pricing. The airline also has said it plans to fly to its first international destinations (taking over service from its AirTran Airways subsidiary) starting with Aruba, Nassau in the Bahamas, and Montego Bay, Jamaica, from several cities on July 1.
Southwest still won?t be able to fly nonstop to international destinations from Love Field ? even after Oct. 13, but the airline will offer ?plenty of international destinations? from Love Field with a connecting stop, he said.
Southwest will announce new initiatives in 2015 and 2016, Kelly said today. ?We have more opportunities over the next five years than we have planes,? he said.
Last year, Southwest saw sold revenue growth and this year is looking to be even better, Kelly said. The airline reported a record net profit for the first quarter and April revenue trends are strong, he said.
?For as big as 2013 was, 2014 is bigger,? Kelly said. ?It is a monumental year for Southwest Airlines. In 2015, all aircraft flying will be in Southwest livery and all employees will be in Southwest uniforms and badges.?
The carrier plans to focus first on launching international flight service on July 1 and then completing the integration of Air Tran into Southwest by the end of the year.
Southwest also today increased its quarterly shareholder dividend by 50 percent to 6 cents per share from 4 cents per share. And it launched a new $1 billion share repurchase program after its previous $1.5 billion program finished last week.
http://aviationblog.dallasnews.com
?We have a very exciting opportunity over the next few years,? Kelly told an audience of more than 100 people at the company?s annual shareholder meeting today in Dallas. ?With the repeal of the Wright Amendment, we have a chance to grow beyond what we?ve already announced.?
He was referring to the expiration on Oct. 13 of flight restrictions under the Wright Amendment, which will let airlines at Dallas Love Field fly nonstop to any other U.S. airport. The Dallas-based airline leases 16 of the 20 gates at Love Field, with 12 active now and four that will open by Oct. 13.
In February, Southwest said it plans to start nonstop service from Dallas Love Field to 15 cities after Oct. 13, but it has not yet announced the number of flights or pricing. The airline also has said it plans to fly to its first international destinations (taking over service from its AirTran Airways subsidiary) starting with Aruba, Nassau in the Bahamas, and Montego Bay, Jamaica, from several cities on July 1.
Southwest still won?t be able to fly nonstop to international destinations from Love Field ? even after Oct. 13, but the airline will offer ?plenty of international destinations? from Love Field with a connecting stop, he said.
Southwest will announce new initiatives in 2015 and 2016, Kelly said today. ?We have more opportunities over the next five years than we have planes,? he said.
Last year, Southwest saw sold revenue growth and this year is looking to be even better, Kelly said. The airline reported a record net profit for the first quarter and April revenue trends are strong, he said.
?For as big as 2013 was, 2014 is bigger,? Kelly said. ?It is a monumental year for Southwest Airlines. In 2015, all aircraft flying will be in Southwest livery and all employees will be in Southwest uniforms and badges.?
The carrier plans to focus first on launching international flight service on July 1 and then completing the integration of Air Tran into Southwest by the end of the year.
Southwest also today increased its quarterly shareholder dividend by 50 percent to 6 cents per share from 4 cents per share. And it launched a new $1 billion share repurchase program after its previous $1.5 billion program finished last week.
http://aviationblog.dallasnews.com
