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Well G. Dam! SWA considers INTL flying---someday, maybe, hopefully

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General Lee

Well-known member
Joined
Aug 24, 2002
Posts
20,442
ATW Daily News

Southwest targets Europe, South America with long-haul low-cost model

Wednesday September 16, 2009

Southwest Airlines plans to open international routes to Europe and South America, although so far there is "no timetable" for the move, Director-Network Strategic Planning Lee Lipton told ATWOnline at the World Route Development Forum in Beijing.
"Europe and South America are our first choice. . .but currently we are still evaluating our options," Lipton said. Southwest Chairman, President and CEO Gary Kelly said last month that the LCC is "seriously considering" operating international flights to Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean as soon as 2011.

Lipton told this website he is confident that the "low-cost, long-haul" business model can work for the carrier "just as AirAsia X and Jetstar have achieved success," adding, "it could even become a trend for LCCs in the coming days."

Interestingly, Spring Airlines, the most successful Chinese LCC, also plans to launch international service. It intends to operate to neighboring Asian countries in time for Shanghai's Expo 2010 starting in May.
However, Assn. of Asia Pacific Airlines DG Andrew Herdman expressed reservations about the low-cost long-haul model, saying, "It's too early to tell if it will be a trend for the future."

He contrasted the normal low-cost business model--narrowbody aircraft, single-class cabins and online ticket sales--with a typical long-haul operation. "Once the LCCs enter the international market, they have to comply with international standards, which means they have to operate a two-class cabin on widebody aircraft and sell their tickets not only through their website but also by GDS," he told ATWOnline. "All these would make low-cost carriers look like full-service airlines, as they have a lot of convergence with carriers that choose the standard model." Herdman concluded: "I wouldn't say it can't work, but it's quite challenging."

by Katie Cantle




Wow, that would be FANTASTIC. The business model that has made them so wildly profitable would be changed, and that could mean they are in panic mode. Kelly got creamed by Bedford for F9, and costs are rising. Maybe they can add some RJs next, and then wages will come down. Enjoy that, and make sure you have a LBB hub for INTL flights. Everyone would love to go there from London, Tokyo, and Buenos Aires. Whatever you do though, start off slow for INTL flying. Try Canada first. Those crazy accents may be confusing, but nothing like the French Controllers......


Ryanair "threatened" to have transatlantic flights after the Irish Gov't said no to an Aer Lingus merger. I wonder what SWA is thinking? And, how long would it take them to get set up for INTL ops like nonstop to Europe? How many people want to go "low fare" across the pond? When did that work last? Fun times.


Bye Bye--General Lee
 
Last edited:
Oh my gawd, things are moving fast, SWA got Canada approval already...

Southwest Airlines Co. carrying on business as Southwest Airlines (applicant) has applied to the Canadian Transportation Agency (Agency) for a licence to operate the service set out in the title. The application was complete on May 20, 2009.

The applicant has been designated pursuant to the Air Transport Agreement between the Government of Canada and the Government of the United States of America signed on March 12, 2007 (Agreement), to operate scheduled international services.

The applicant filed an affidavit attesting that within the twelve months preceding the filing of the application it did not contravene section 59 of the Canada Transportation Act (CTA) in that it has not sold, caused to be sold or publicly offered for sale in Canada transportation in respect of the applied for air service without holding the required licence. The applicant has also undertaken in respect of the air service applied for that it will not contravene section 59 of the CTA prior to the issuance of the applied for licence. The Agency is not aware of any evidence that the applicant contravened section 59 of the CTA within the preceding twelve months.

The Agency has reviewed the application and is satisfied that the applicant meets the requirements of subsection 69(1) of the CTA. The Agency is also satisfied that the pertinent terms and conditions of the Agreement have been complied with. Accordingly, the Agency will issue to the applicant a licence to operate a scheduled international service.

Pursuant to subsection 71(1) of the CTA, the Agency deems the terms and conditions set out below to be consistent with the Agreement and will therefore include them in the licence to be issued pursuant to this Decision.

The licence to be issued pursuant to this Decision shall be subject, in addition to the conditions prescribed by the Air Transportation Regulations, SOR/88-58, as amended (ATR), to the requirements to hold a Canadian aviation document issued by the Minister of Transport, and to have prescribed liability insurance coverage as set out in section 7 of the ATR, and to the following terms and conditions to which the licence is made subject pursuant to subsection 71(1) of the CTA:

1. The Licensee is authorized to operate the route(s) set out in the Agreement.

2. The Licensee is prohibited from carrying local traffic between points in Canada.

3. The operation of the scheduled international service authorized herein shall be conducted subject to the provisions of the Agreement and to any arrangements related thereto as may be agreed to between Canada and the United States of America.

4. Unless terminated at an earlier date in accordance with the CTA or the Agreement, this licence shall terminate at the termination or expiration of the Agreement, or upon the effective date of any amendment to the Agreement which shall have the effect of eliminating the rights herein authorized





Quick! Break out the manuals and do sims about flying into Toronto! You have to say "Eh" a lot, and say "Thanks hosers, cleared to land..." Also, when Clearance asks you when you are ready to push, make sure you say "in a BOAT 15 minutes, eh?"


Bye Bye--General Lee
 
Wow, that would be FANTASTIC. The business model that has made them so wildly profitable would be changed, and that could mean they are in panic mode. Kelly got creamed by Bedford for F9, and costs are rising. Maybe they can add some RJs next, and then wages will come down. Enjoy that, and make sure you have a LBB hub for INTL flights. Everyone would love to go there from London, Tokyo, and Buenos Aires. Whatever you do though, start off slow for INTL flying. Try Canada first. Those crazy accents may be confusing, but nothing like the French Controllers......

General Lee woke up on the wrong side of the bed again. Flame bait!

Why do you care so much about this F9 stuff? Everybody over here has moved on and could care less.
 
Well I for one have no worries, if they were able to teach you how to fly over water General I'm VERY sure everyone here will be able to.
And just don't you go worrying, we'll gladly leave all those hairy Greecian women just for you since we know you're attached. Which somehow explains your infatuation with LBB...;)


SLC
:cool:
 
Well I for one have no worries, if they were able to teach you how to fly over water General I'm VERY sure everyone here will be able to.
And just don't you go worrying, we'll gladly leave all those hairy Greecian women just for you since we know you're attached. Which somehow explains your infatuation with LBB...;)


SLC
:cool:

I cannot wait to see your FANTASTIC Southwest A380s flying across the pond. But, Kelly told me a little secret. Instead of stopping for a layover like most normal airlines, the key to Kelly's plan is that he will crew the A380 with 6 pilots, and do 6 legs for the first day---BWI to London Stansted, and then onto Paris Beuvais, onto Rome Ciampino, Beirut, Jeddah, and finally Kano, Nigeria. That 1 2 3 rule in Kano is gonna be a BLAST, and you will be yelling through the Malaria induced vomiting--"this is FRICKEN FANTASTIC, burp belch, yetch!" LBB will never look so good. Kano will be the new LBB. Enjoy!


Bye Bye--General Lee
 
I cannot wait to see your FANTASTIC Southwest A380s flying across the pond. But, Kelly told me a little secret. Instead of stopping for a layover like most normal airlines, the key to Kelly's plan is that he will crew the A380 with 6 pilots, and do 6 legs for the first day---BWI to London Stansted, and then onto Paris Beuvais, onto Rome Ciampino, Beirut, Jeddah, and finally Kano, Nigeria. That 1 2 3 rule in Kano is gonna be a BLAST, and you will be yelling through the Malaria induced vomiting--"this is FRICKEN FANTASTIC, burp belch, yetch!" LBB will never look so good. Kano will be the new LBB. Enjoy!


Bye Bye--General Lee


Thanks for the laugh.

Best of luck on the international. It is a different animal than domestic. I bet you do SA, and LA long before you go to Europe. The North Atlantic is already too crowded. It might get ugly to pick on that market.
 
Anybody else wondering WHY would SWA...or anyone else...show their hand regarding this.

Talk about laying your cards face up before the flop...
 
Anybody else wondering WHY would SWA...or anyone else...show their hand regarding this.

Talk about laying your cards face up before the flop...


This has been talked about, wrote about, and kicked around for the last 3 years. What rock did you just crawl out from under?
 

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