We all know that Southwest Airways has been present process some important adjustments, in its quest to enhance profitability. The airline is doing the whole lot from bringing again redeye flying, to introducing assigned and additional legroom seating. The corporate can be below quite a lot of strain, given the activist buyers who need issues to vary quick.
Effectively, there are rumors a few main announcement coming from the Dallas-based airline within the coming days. All we will do as of now could be speculate, although I wish to cowl what’s being mentioned, because it does appear doubtless that one thing shall be introduced.
Rumors a few main Southwest improvement
The at all times insightful @xJonNYC means that there is perhaps a big announcement coming from Southwest within the subsequent couple of days. To briefly cowl his Twitter/X postings on the subject to this point, he began by asking if anybody has any intel or rumors on a Southwest and/or JetBlue announcement within the coming days.
He has heard that officers from Southwest’s pilots union have signed an NDA in latest days, together with being informed {that a} massive change is coming to service procedures, which would require coaching.
He means that possibly this might embrace a brand new plane sort on the airline, and likewise emphasizes that he’s not hinting {that a} merger is on the horizon. He additionally suggests the announcement might come as quickly as Monday, which is a vacation in the US, so the markets are closed (which might clearly be fairly deliberate).
He additionally factors out how there are presently zero job postings of any sort at Southwest (for each inside and exterior candidates), which is slightly uncommon. Some say that the final time there have been zero job postings was when the service merged with AirTran, a few years again.
It’s additionally identified how a Southwest flight attendant union board member attended a administration assembly, after which posted a ballot on Fb, asking others which airline they assume Southwest will merge with (I wouldn’t learn an excessive amount of into that).
In order that’s sort of all we all know as of now. I do imagine that there shall be an announcement of some type within the coming days. Nevertheless, it stays to be seen how important it’s.
What might Southwest be saying?
Clearly all we will do as of now could be speculate. Might Southwest be inserting a brand new plane order? Might the airline be buying one other airline? Might Southwest companion with one other airline, in a big method? It’s value noting that Southwest’s union contracts have been renegotiated in recent times to offer the corporate a bit extra leverage, with the whole lot from redeye flying, to airline partnerships.
Southwest has traditionally been an all-Boeing 737 operator, and it’s one thing the service has seemingly caught to. Nevertheless, there’s no denying that that is posing a serious challenge for the service’s progress and fleet renewal. The largest challenge is that the Boeing 737 MAX 7 hasn’t but been licensed, and Southwest desperately needs this decrease capability plane. It’s anybody’s guess if/when will probably be licensed.
So might Southwest lastly be contemplating ordering a distinct plane sort? Perhaps the Airbus A220? Or possibly the Embraer E195-E2? The latter appears unlikely, however then once more, the airplane might have the quickest supply slots out there.
Alternatively, might Southwest be taking a look at some form of an airline acquisition? Breeze and JetBlue have been most rumored. Breeze is privately owned and would give Southwest instant entry to A220s, so it might assist Southwest’s capability points. Apparently, Breeze’s president just lately moved to Southwest, to tackle the function of CFO. That’s doubtless unrelated, however value mentioning.
JetBlue looks like an extended shot to me, because the airways have completely completely different enterprise fashions and passenger experiences. Then once more, it will give Southwest entry to some profitable markets. I’m nonetheless satisfied we’re going to see some important airline consolidation through the Trump presidency.
Nevertheless, it appears unlikely that consolidation is at play right here, provided that some work teams have reportedly been briefed with NDAs. That wouldn’t ordinarily occur with a piece group like pilots for a merger, given the dangers of the data leaking. Then once more, freezing all hiring and never having a single open place to fill does look like one thing you’d anticipate if there have been a merger.
Might Southwest be saying some form of a big airline partnership, in any other case? Primarily based on what’s being reported, that appears unlikely, because it wouldn’t influence service procedures on the airline.
Backside line
Whereas there’s nothing official but, rumor has it {that a} massive announcement is imminent at Southwest. We don’t know any particulars, although, so it’s anybody’s guess if it’s a brand new sort of plane for the airline, or one thing completely completely different.
I do assume Southwest administration is below strain to make main adjustments, and I wouldn’t be shocked to see a “radical” transfer, not less than by Southwest’s traditionally conservative requirements.
Anyway, we must always know quickly sufficient if one thing is being introduced, and if that’s the case, what it’s. If anybody needs to get their guess in, now could be the time to take action.
What are you anticipating that Southwest Airways will announce, if something?
