Getting Passengers Back In The Air

swamt

Veteran
Oct 23, 2010
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I am glad SWA finally came forward and also agreed to mandate mask and/or face coverings, leaving middle seats empty, and spacing every other row and seats for social distancing. Now I am even a bigger fan that it sounds as if all the airlines are also in full support of checking the temps of all passengers, employees and flight crews of all on board. Anyone with the recommended 96.9 CDC temp should be denied boarding, no questions asked, no if's and's or but's. I know this article just reads as supporting but usually once all airlines are in agreement, hopefully it will be made mandatory for all.

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/major-u-airlines-endorse-temperature-212100922.html
 
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Some more encouraging movement for the airlines. Each month outside of March and April are starting to look better and better. I really hope the re-opening of things do not trigger another round of virus spreading. Pretty sure as long as we all practice the social distancing, cleaning and disinfecting, and of course distancing on aircraft along with mask and/or face coverings, we should be ok.
Hopefully we are back to a livable 2/3 LF before Oct. and maybe with the early out programs they will get enough folks to retire and not have to force any rifs or layoffs.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/southwest-united-start-see-signs-182918726.html

https://finance.yahoo.com/m/4e835b6...est,-united,-delta.html?src=A00220&yptr=yahoo
 
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Just read that SWA will enforce mask on an update from our leaders. As of May, all employees with customer contacts as well as employee contacts must wear mask. It was also updated that customers must also wear mask and any customers not complying will be denied boarding and not fly. So far only JetBlue and SWA has this strong of requirements since COVID-19. I think this will get us more passengers than the big 3 who are not enforcing the mask and/or the face coverings. Good for SWA...
 
Doubtful. They'll buy the cheapest or the airline they have status with.

The other carriers are not putting their employees in the position of playing God. Can't wait until the first viral video of someone being denied boarding hits Twitter. I don't think it will be as well received as you do.

Will WN divert if someone takes their mask off inflight? Have police arrest on arrival for failure to follow crewmember instructions? That's where all the discussion seems to be the most relevant.
 
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Very glad to see SWA follow Delta's path to distancing on aircraft. Just as SWA also followed JetBlue's lead on mandatory mask and/or face coverings or you not boarding, period. I do strongly believe with the stronger policies, those airlines will recover quicker because the general public wants to be safer when getting back in the air and everyone is wearing mask and distancing more and more passengers will go to those airlines practicing safer policies. It's a no brainer. And for the folks who want to pound their chest in protest over freedom and not wanting to comply, all you folks can go fly another airline that won't practice safer flying environments for all onboard. After all it is a free country.
Article below indicates SWA will still enforce the policies going into June and July now after starting in May. They have already received many, many letters from passengers saying they will fly SWA since they are practicing tougher mask, distancing and disinfecting policies. So with the seeing passenger increases do to the policies as well as summer time travel kicking in as well SWA extended it thru July. Have to wait and see how it goes if further out will be enacted. Good call Southwest...

https://www.yahoo.com/finance/news/southwest-add-more-flights-meet-155432365.html
 
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Even more encouraging news. Thanks for posting 1AA. And I will leave another article about SWA starting more expansion by end of year and adding flights.
With SWA's up coming EO's and leave package extensions coming June 1st, hopefully enough take it where SWA doesn't have to layoff. Also hopefully, the flying schedule will be built back up ENOUGH to also avoid any involuntary leaves. We have heard of some rumors on some examples of the leaves and Eo's coming and they do sound pretty encouraging IF TRUE, I will wait for the official word from SWA. Wouldn't want to get anyone excited then let down if the rumors were not accurate. But, SWA did say it will be the most generous packages they have ever offered. Last offers for "Freedom 09" was 75K for mechanics and related.
From these articles it appears that Southwest is going a different direction than the other big 3 airlines. To this day AA and United are saying they will be cutting 30% at a minimum. Delta hasn't really said or gave any numbers or % that I know of, maybe Kev could verify. But from what Kev has been posting it does look like Delta is forcing---rather---voluntold to take leaves, reduced hours, not sure about reduced pay as of yet But I don't think so do to the CARES Act.
Hopefully all airlines will get back to good enough flight schedules in order to keep what they have as long as they all get enough EO and leave takers. Good luck to all of us...

https://www.yahoo.com/news/mostly-domestic-southwest-airlines-seeing-203042492.html
 
Does anyone on Wall Street ever listen to "Board Room" management at various companies? Yes it's impressive to be given an investment grade rating, but Gary Kelly just 4 days ago reiterated his "Southwest is in intensive care statement." (He said it first back in March.) I don't think Mr. Kelly would say such a thing unless he is truly concerned about the company's current status and its future. Intensive care is not a good metaphor for an investment grade stock.

https://www.dallasnews.com/business...lly-it-will-be-a-brutal-low-fare-environment/
 
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The EO's and extended leave packages are out now at SWA. It was encouraging to see the numbers come up for the 6-12-18 month time off and will more than likely get even more participation. Already heard a number of guys are taking the Early Out offer, also glad to see the years salary for severance over 10 years. Looks like this time they are serious about getting takers this time around.
Stay home for 6, 12, or 18 months at half pay. Or take the EO if you are close to retirement anyway with a years pay, years co. paid insurance benefits, flight benefits for 4 years, ect... Hope we get a bunch of folks taking the offers and get thru this without any involuntary leaves, but, we all know it still very well could happen. Stay safe all, and stay healthy and go spend some time with the family. Good luck to all.

https://www.yahoo.com/news/southwest-offers-buyouts-ensure-survival-155458833.html

https://www.yahoo.com/news/southwest-offers-buyout-packages-temporary-114511279.html
 
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Read this article below this morning. I do not see the middle seats going away perm. But I do like the idea of giving passengers the options for an empty middle seat. Maybe split the cost of that middle seat between the two passengers that want it. (note; I said cost not profit off of it) added fee for the passengers that want it, but Southwest doesn't have to spread that cost increase to all other passengers. If they want the empty seat then there will be a premium just like pre-boarding and other perks they pay fees for. This way they don't nickle and dime all passengers, only the ones that demand it have to pony up the added fees. A win-win for all in my opinion.

https://r.search.yahoo.com/_ylt=A2K...le-seat//RK=2/RS=iuq01O.XHn_lZJvJ7V6peVF4Ioo-
 
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Even more encouraging news. June looking to be in the lower 70's% instead of 80's%, and July bookings looking to be even better. That's great news. Now has enough cash and money to run airline as is for 2 years. Hopefully by end of Aug. we will reach the downhill side of 50% marker. Wow! At this pace we could very well bee at same capacity as we were at end of 2019 by end of 2020. I am still optimistic about that, BUT, SWA is getting even more aggressive at enticing passengers to come back to the air with new and improved sales, as well as, business incentives, and double and triple rewards.
Also keeping true to the "Southwest Promise" with improved cleaning and disinfecting procedures AND stretching out the distancing policies thru end of Sep now.
Sweeeeeeet!!!

https://finance.yahoo.com/m/5fd23e6...evenue.html?puc=yahoo&cm_ven=YAHOO&yptr=yahoo

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/southwest-launches-sale-extends-open-212500031.html

https://finance.yahoo.com/m/e039abf...eeps-its-middle.html?siteid=yhoof2&yptr=yahoo
 

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