A review of employment numbers and schedules suggests the airlines are up to 20% less efficient than in 2019 on a per-employee basis.
Southwest Airlines
No MAX 7s for Southwest this year
At the beginning of 2022 Southwest Airlines anticipated taking delivery of more than 70 new Boeing 737 MAX 7 aircraft through the year. Seven months into the year, with FAA certification timing still unclear, the carrier revised that number to zero.
Destination Reels boost interactivity on Southwest’s moving map
Roughly a third of the time spent in the Southwest Airlines inflight connectivity portal is consumed on the moving map. And those passengers now have some additional infotainment available. The carrier is the launch customer for Destination Reels from FlightPath3D, an immersive travel guide loaded with mobile-friendly, short-form videos for all of Southwest’s destinations.
Spirit wins Newark slots, with conditions to keep them
pirit Airlines led the legal charge to ensure the slots Southwest Airlines abandoned at Newark would be reallocated. Now, after much legal wrangling, the carrier won the rights to those 16 slots.
Astronics selected for Southwest’s in-seat power program
Last month Southwest Airlines announced plans to install in-seat power on its 737 MAX fleet. Now we know that Astronics will provide its EMPOWER solution to the carrier.
Southwest selects Viasat for future WiFi installs, adds power, too
Southwest Airlines selected Viasat’s next generation, Ka-band satellite in-flight connectivity (IFC) system on aircraft deliveries, starting this fall. New 737 MAX aircraft will see the Viasat kit installed by Boeing on the factory line, arriving at Southwest with the WiFi service ready to fly.
Avelo adds Orlando base, continues expansion
Upstart Avelo Airlines sees big potential in Orlando. The airline will establish a new crew and aircraft base in Central Florida, bringing new competition to the market. Avelo plans for ten destinations served from Orlando by the end of the year.
Mediocre name, benefits as Southwest launches new fare family
The new Wanna Get Away Plus fares from Southwest Airlines (re)open a nice benefit for some travelers, though the overall offering does not appear especially compelling for most travelers.
Venmo takes flight on Southwest
Travelers can now add “Southwest Airlines WiFi” to their Venmo payment comments and really mean it. The airline, in partnership with in-flight WiFi provider Anuvu, added the payment option to its on board portal in recent weeks.
Frontier bails on Newark, blames high operating costs
Frontier Airlines is pulling out of Newark. Just two years after it arrived, hot on the heels of Southwest’s withdrawal, the ultra low cost carrier says the economics of continuing operations in Newark no longer make sense. Washington-Dulles will also lose service as part of the company’s shift.