Stimpy
06-21-2006, 05:21 PM
From USA Today:
Southwest closer to assigned seating
Updated 6/21/2006 9:52 AM ET
Southwest Airlines, with its open-seating policy, is examining other boarding methods that might hasten departures.
By Dan Reed, USA TODAY
Southwest Airlines will take its first overt step toward junking its fabled open seating next month when it tests the effect of assigned seats on its ability to quickly get its planes back into the air.
The tests will begin July 10 and affect about 200 selected flights departing from San Diego over several weeks. CEO Gary Kelly said Tuesday that Southwest wants "to make sure that we have studied all ... aspects of assigned seating before we make any change to what has been a very successful formula for the past 35 years."
Spokesman Ed Stewart said staff trained specifically for the test will monitor customer satisfaction as well as airline operations. San Diego offers a mix of short, medium and long flights conducive to the test.
A decision to begin assigning seats on all Southwest flights likely is months away, and would not be implemented before 2008, Kelly said. By then, Southwest expects to complete work on computer changes that would allow it to assign seats throughout its system.
Southwest officials have been discussing a switch to assigned seating for several years, but have been slow to move.
But now, Southwest is competing in new cities where potential customers aren't seeing the charm of open seating the same as many Southwest loyalists who grew up with it.
Southwest's industry-leading ability to turn around arriving planes and get them back in the air has been crucial to its successful low-cost operations.
The carrier invented the "20-minute turn" out of necessity in late 1971, the year it began flying. In order to meet its payroll, the thinly capitalized start-up had to return one of its four leased planes. But by turning its three remaining planes in 20 minutes, it continued operating its full schedule.
The idea worked. In the process, Southwest discovered that an intense focus on the highly efficient use of assets — planes, gates and employees — is a key to its profitability. That focus on efficiency became the company's hallmark. And it has paid off with 60 consecutive quarterly profits.
Southwest's turn times have stretched in recent years to around 30 minutes, on average. In part that's because it now flies larger-capacity planes. It also flies into more big airports where congestion slows operations.
Southwest ranks as the USA's No. 6 carrier in passenger miles flown, and it is on pace to move ahead of No. 5 Northwest Airlines in the 2006 rankings due out next spring. It already carries more domestic passengers than any other U.S. carrier.
Southwest closer to assigned seating
Updated 6/21/2006 9:52 AM ET
Southwest Airlines, with its open-seating policy, is examining other boarding methods that might hasten departures.
By Dan Reed, USA TODAY
Southwest Airlines will take its first overt step toward junking its fabled open seating next month when it tests the effect of assigned seats on its ability to quickly get its planes back into the air.
The tests will begin July 10 and affect about 200 selected flights departing from San Diego over several weeks. CEO Gary Kelly said Tuesday that Southwest wants "to make sure that we have studied all ... aspects of assigned seating before we make any change to what has been a very successful formula for the past 35 years."
Spokesman Ed Stewart said staff trained specifically for the test will monitor customer satisfaction as well as airline operations. San Diego offers a mix of short, medium and long flights conducive to the test.
A decision to begin assigning seats on all Southwest flights likely is months away, and would not be implemented before 2008, Kelly said. By then, Southwest expects to complete work on computer changes that would allow it to assign seats throughout its system.
Southwest officials have been discussing a switch to assigned seating for several years, but have been slow to move.
But now, Southwest is competing in new cities where potential customers aren't seeing the charm of open seating the same as many Southwest loyalists who grew up with it.
Southwest's industry-leading ability to turn around arriving planes and get them back in the air has been crucial to its successful low-cost operations.
The carrier invented the "20-minute turn" out of necessity in late 1971, the year it began flying. In order to meet its payroll, the thinly capitalized start-up had to return one of its four leased planes. But by turning its three remaining planes in 20 minutes, it continued operating its full schedule.
The idea worked. In the process, Southwest discovered that an intense focus on the highly efficient use of assets — planes, gates and employees — is a key to its profitability. That focus on efficiency became the company's hallmark. And it has paid off with 60 consecutive quarterly profits.
Southwest's turn times have stretched in recent years to around 30 minutes, on average. In part that's because it now flies larger-capacity planes. It also flies into more big airports where congestion slows operations.
Southwest ranks as the USA's No. 6 carrier in passenger miles flown, and it is on pace to move ahead of No. 5 Northwest Airlines in the 2006 rankings due out next spring. It already carries more domestic passengers than any other U.S. carrier.