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Southwest Airlines’ chief executive Gary Kelly is a wise man.

Not only has Southwest stock risen to record highs under his stewardship, recording a stellar performance on the way, but he is also splitting a large chunk of those proceeds with the US-based carrier’s employees, who trousered a cool $355m in profit-share last year.

Consider the stark contrast with Europe, where recent strikes and plunging equity valuations have opened the debate as to whether some carriers can stay flying, let alone the ...

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  • Craig Morningstar

    February 07, 2015 at 12:51 am

    After 2017, when SWA has the new 737-Max 700 or converts them to 737-Max 900, SWA could starting flying from BOS-STN, BOS-DUB, BOS-LTN, BOS-KEF, BWI-DUB, BWI-KEF, BOS-GLA and BOS-EDI.
    Airports that have US Pre-Clearance will be selected early in the process.
    With the use of US Pre-Clearance airports and the build-out of BOS as the 16th focus city for SWA, there would be easy connections and likely direction flights to SWA’s other focus cities of MDW, ATL, HOU, BWI, DEN, PHX, LAS, STL, MCI, MCO, FFL, LAX, SAN, DAL, BNA, MCI, TPA, MKE and OAK.
    SWA having Pre-Clearance at these secondary airports will be the key, so others like BA and AAL will work against it. Another important aspect will the Europe LCCs making and feeding traffic to their secondary markets. This combination of direct and connecting flights with 15 SWA focus cities via BOS, and connection traffic with Europe LLCs to their secondary cities is a win-win for everyone, expect the legacy carriers.

  • Alessandro Pasetti

    February 10, 2015 at 8:17 pm

    Hi Craig,

    Valuable insight, thanks much for that. When you say that BA and AAL “will work against it”, what do you think the outcome will be?

    Thanks again.

    AP