Bob Jordan travel tips

Boeing delivery delays have forced Southwest to reduce its capacity expectations for this year and to "actively and urgently" focus on cost reductions, CEO Bob Jordan said Tuesday.

Southwest Airlines has increased the cost of its early check-in and upgraded boarding services, making it a bit pricier for travelers to guarantee the seat they want.

Big news from Southwest Airlines this week as the airline changed a long-standing policy and allowed its fares to be listed on a third-party website for the first time. Travelers will now be able to find Southwest flight pricing and details on Google Flights, a move the carrier calls a “pilot partnership.”

Searching for Southwest flights just got easier.

Good morning from Skift. It’s Thursday, May 23. Here’s what you need to know about the business of travel today.

Something that was once seen as unlikely now seems to be a reality: Southwest Airlines is on Google Flights. 

Southwest Airlines is looking to become only the second airline to operate a nonstop route between Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) and Las Vegas' Harry Reid International Airport (LAS).

Given its proximity to Washington, D.C., slots — especially long-distance ones — at the heavily congested Reagan National Airport are highly coveted. 

Last week, Southwest’s CEO Bob Jordan ignited a flurry of headlines when he suggested that the struggling airline could make changes to some of its long-standing policies in an attempt to increase ancillary revenue.

Southwest Airlines' settlement terms with the Department of Transportation (DOT) are kicking in — leading to future customers receiving compensation if they experience a significant flight delay. As part of the settlement sparked from the airline’s 2022 holiday meltdown, Southwest has agreed to award $75 or more in transferrable vouchers to travelers who reach their destination at least three hours late due to an airline-caused disruption or cancellation, according to the DOT.

When Southwest Airlines reported larger than expected financial losses in its most recent quarterly earnings call on April 25,the airline also announced that it will be cutting service to four airports airports as of August 4, 2024. Additionally, Southwest is planning to reduce capacity at two other major destinations. The goal of these cuts is to “improve unit revenue performance and operating margin,” according to the earnings call. The airline has not ruled out further cuts to its network, adding to the uncertainty plaguing the airline industry in recent months.

American Airlines said Friday it would reduce some of its international routes during the second half of the year and early into 2025 because of ongoing Boeing 787 Dreamliner delays. 

Southwest Airlines is considering making major changes to its seating process.

Southwest's famous boarding process may be up in the air. On Thursday, after reporting a net loss of $231 million, the Dallas-based airline announced a variety of changes, including the potential for new seating assignments and confirmed the closure of operations at several airports. 

Southwest Airlines is pulling out of four airports as it deals with Boeing delays.

The ongoing Boeing 737 Max 9 fallout is continuing to burn airlines.

Southwest Airlines is ceasing operations at four airports, and reducing flights from others, in an effort to cut costs after its growth plans were curtailed by fewer than expected plane deliveries from Boeing.

The acquisition of SAFFiRE comes shortly after Southwest announced an investment in LanzaJet, a SAF technology provider and producer with a patented ethanol-to-SAF technology and the world’s first ethanol-to-SAF commercial plant.

United Airlines is offering pilots unpaid time off in May due to delivery delays with Boeing aircraft, the airline confirmed Monday. 

Southwest Airlines is preparing to launch a travel option common throughout the airline industry — but one not in place at the Dallas-based carrier.

Southwest Airlines is hoping to start red-eye flights sometime in the next two years after first floating the possibility of the overnight routes a few months ago. 

Good morning from Skift. It’s Wednesday, March 13. Here’s what you need to know about the business of travel today.