Southwest Airlines to convert 20 -700 orders to -800s

Southwest Airlines Chairman, President and CEO Gary Kelly told the Wings Club in New York City that SWA has notified Boeing that it will “substitute 20 of its 737-700 orders for -800s,” with the first delivery scheduled for March 2012. The airline had made known its desire to add the larger type into its fleet of 737-700s, -300s and -500s but needed to get approval from its pilot and cabin crew unions first.

In a statement, the airline said it is "continuing to finalize discussions" with Boeing regarding "substitutions of the -800s for the -700 positions, and configuration and equipage options."

Kelly said the current plan is to take the 20 aircraft in 180-minute ETOPs configuration. The aircraft "would bring us to more distant markets like Hawaii, Cancun, Mexico, the Caribbean and Bermuda," he said.

Regarding SWA’s pending acquisition of AirTran (ATW Daily News, Dec. 9), Kelly said it “boosts our profitability, which is key to resuming investment in our business,” and brings an “additional 38 cities” into the SWA network. Coupled with the 72 cities SWA serves today, Kelly noted this creates a “whole host of expansion opportunities simply by virtue of “connecting the two route networks together.” This can all be accomplished, he said, “without adding an aircraft or raising fares.”

Kelly also announced 10 additional daily nonstop flights from Newark Liberty with three daily nonstops to Baltimore/Washington International, three daily nonstops to Denver, two daily nonstops to Houston Hobby, and two daily nonstops to Phoenix Sky Harbor, beginning June 5, 2011. These cities join the previously announced nonstop service from Newarkto Chicago Midway with six nonstop flights, and St. Louiswith two nonstop flights—which begins March 27, 2011—providing Newarka total of 18 daily SWA departures. SWA acquired slots at EWR from United Airlines and Continental Airlines under an agreement between those carriers and the US Dept. of Justice.

(Linda Blachly - ATWOnline News)