Southwest cuts more than a third of all flights from October schedule

jimntx

Veteran
Jun 28, 2003
11,218
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Dallas, TX
www.usaviation.com
Note: Information here is picked from various news sources that don't let you post a workable URL reference. IF you know a way to post the url, the article was top of front page for August 26th.

WN is scaling back for an aggressive recovery heading into the fall. That includes nearly 35000 flights nationwide and nearly 35% of flights out of Dallas Love Field. (About 60 flights/day.) Company spokesperson said that they will have the flexibility to add flights as needed (for instance, to maintain empty middle seat.)
 
That's a pretty big cut. Was that baked into the "no layoff" projection or will WN have to revisit their staffing?....
 
No they won't E.
This was a build up of the schedule for fall in case there would be the opportunity to have an aggressive return quickly. They were not flying any of these build up schedules as of yet and so they just simply removed them from the schedule. It's about the same reductions all the airlines are doing 20-30%.
Southwest did say a little while back that they will look again at the staffing levels in 2021. Pretty much as long as we are gaining (although it will be slow) month to month moving thru 2021 especially early and into spring, we should be safe from any involuntary leaves. If something crazy and out of the ordinary pops up and no vaccine is out soon, then yes, SWA will re-look at staffing levels once again. However long before any involuntary leaves are used you will see a massive belt tightening by the co. first, plus nego's with the unions for certain pay, bennies, and maybe even more time off offers to bring out prior to the involuntary leaves happening.
 
No they won't E.
This was a build up of the schedule for fall in case there would be the opportunity to have an aggressive return quickly. They were not flying any of these build up schedules as of yet and so they just simply removed them from the schedule. It's about the same reductions all the airlines are doing 20-30%.
Southwest did say a little while back that they will look again at the staffing levels in 2021. Pretty much as long as we are gaining (although it will be slow) month to month moving thru 2021 especially early and into spring, we should be safe from any involuntary leaves. If something crazy and out of the ordinary pops up and no vaccine is out soon, then yes, SWA will re-look at staffing levels once again. However long before any involuntary leaves are used you will see a massive belt tightening by the co. first, plus nego's with the unions for certain pay, bennies, and maybe even more time off offers to bring out prior to the involuntary leaves happening.


" PLUS negotiations with the Unions for $$$ ".

NEVER, EVER "GIVE BACK $$$ ", Hard won over many, many years of contentious Contracts, P E R I O D !!!!!
 
Relax Bears. Our union already told the co. no. But the co. will still ask if they need to, doesn't mean they will get granted.

So SWA removes a third of the falls flights and throws a $39 fare sale for 3 days which ends today. Interesting timing.
 
Hardly coincidental. Any other airline who shrank 30% in one month and launched a fire sale would be (correctly) accused of making a cash grab.

But because it's WN, it's strategic....
 
I wouldn't call it either. More of enticements to get passengers back in the air. SWA is working hard on getting break even by end of year and this is part of that. Better to make a little more income instead of none, so why not throw a fare sale out there? Better than doing nothing to get nothing.
 
I wouldn't call it either. More of enticements to get passengers back in the air. SWA is working hard on getting break even by end of year and this is part of that. Better to make a little more income instead of none, so why not throw a fare sale out there? Better than doing nothing to get nothing.
Amen! As I said on another thread...staff reductions and grounding airplanes reduce expenses, but do not generate a dime of income. Southwest is doing what it needs to do to stay alive--generating income. $39/seat is better than $0/seat. Granted, not a whole lot better, but still better.
 
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