So yesterday I ran the first post in a series known as the Southwest Airlines Difference. Today is Part 2. I want to look at a couple more things that make Southwest a whole different animal.
3. Aircraft- Ah the 737… To aviation fans like me, the single type aircraft proliferation that Southwest engages in is disappointing; especially so when you consider their gorgeous livery.
But one has to admit that their policy of only using the Boeing 737 is intriguing. They, along with Alaska Airlines, are the only US airline to have a single type of aircraft in their fleet. The policy actually makes a lot of economic sense. For an airline that doesn't fly internationally, or to Alaska and Hawaii, the 737 has all the capabilities they need. Its seating range of 120-140 seats in single class configuration is conducive to profit because it offers the right match between capacity and frequency. And having solely one type of aircraft reduces maintenance costs, because you only have to train one kind of mechanic, only have to have one type of registration, only have to file documents in the name of one aircraft.
The second thing that Southwest does, is utilize its aircraft much better than other rivals. Because they don't really connect passengers, they can schedule aircraft more effectively because they don't need waves of departures. The second thing that ups their utilization is the simplified boarding process. Having only one class of service means that the drawn out tiered boarding system doesn't take time away from flying. And having one class of service saves valuable time between flights; time that would be lost preparing the service for first class passengers. And the most important factor in aircraft utilization, the sheer volume of their operation. With 3,150 flights daily, of all lengths and types, Southwest can mix and match planes to achieve maximum efficiency.
Tune in soon for Part 3
Flickr credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/stuseeger/3118251161/