Southwest biggest hubs11/25/2023 ![]() ![]() Each has a name, usually ending in ‘One’. However, of interest to aviation enthusiasts are the many special liveries worn by Southwest Airlines’ aircraft, mostly commemorating state flags, but in the past have been painted as killer whales and other unusual schemes. For the first time the airline name was moved from the aircraft’s tail fin and onto the forward fuselage. Related: American Airlines’ Phoenix Hub is Still Growing Carrier Adds 3 New Routes. Kennedy (6.89 million) Source: Diio by Cirium. In 2014 an updated livery was introduced, known as Heart. Philadelphia (21.09 million) Phoenix (19.79 million) Los Angeles (16.41 million) Washington Reagan National (11.03 million) New York LaGuardia (7.73 million) New York John F. Southwest Airlines aircraft flew with a standard sand-coloured desert livery from its early life to the early 2000s when the canyon blue ‘Spirit’ scheme was introduced. Southwest Airlines: Introducing Louisiana One The airline’s Boeing 737-700s were absorbed, but the 717s were disposed of. For more than 30 years, Southwest Airlines has been the launch customer for each new generation of Boeings 737-series aircraft, including the 737 MAX 8. Southwest has the largest Boeing fleet in the world. Southwest Airlines acquired rival AirTran Airways in 2011, giving it much more access to the east coast and a hub in Atlanta. Southwest has an industry-leading balance sheet and investment-grade ratings from all three credit rating agencies. In December 1997, Southwest Airlines became the launch customer for the new Boeing 737 Next Generation range, adding many 737-700s and later -800s. It initially operated the -200s, then added a large fleet of 737-300s (it was the launch customer), with some supplemental -500s. The airline plans to fly its largest-ever March schedule from Denver, with up to 270 departures a day. ![]() The airline briefly included Boeing 727s in its fleet, but for the majority of its lifespan has focussed on the 737. In the schedule extension, Southwest doubled down on its two biggest hubs. This went in the face of all other airlines at the time, which were still providing these extra services.įollowing deregulation in 1978, Southwest Airlines was able to expand and bring its low-cost model to cities across the United States (however, it remained in the south western states for a long time before venturing east in any meaningful way). The airline initially flew Boeing 737-200 aircraft, operating with a ‘no frills’ strategy which meant seats were not assigned and catering was not provided, allowing costs to be saved. It was inspired by Pacific Southwest Airlines which had a similar model in California. Today it is one of the world’s largest airlines, focusing on a single fleet of Boeing 737 aircraft, and covers a wide-range of destinations across the United States, plus Mexico and the Caribbean.įounded in 1967 be Herb Kelleher, a larger than life businessman and lawyer, the original idea was to link Houston, Dallas, San Antonio and Austin by low-cost air service. Long seen as one of the darlings of the aviation industry, Southwest Airlines is regarded as one of the most loved airlines, and the innovator which began the worldwide low-cost revolution. ![]()
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