The carrier is weighing an order for Dreamliners to support its move into international markets. This shift would expand the airline's reach beyond its current short-haul focus.
Southwest Airlines is reportedly leaning towards buying Boeing 787 Dreamliners as it eyes expansion into the long-haul international market, sources from within the Dallas-based carrier cited by Reuters have claimed. The airline has been actively pursuing a move into the long-haul international market for some time now. Last year, chief executive Bob Jordan confirmed that Southwest was considering its options, with routes to Europe and Latin America being examined, as well as the potential for flights to Africa and Asia.
As an all-Boeing 737 narrowbody operator, Southwest’s existing fleet doesn’t offer nearly enough range to make these routes viable, so if the airline is going to expand into the long-haul market, it will need to shop new aircraft. The Boeing 787 Dreamliner was always going to be an easy pick for an airline like Southwest considering long-haul operations for the first time.
With a maximum range of 8,300 nautical miles, the Boeing 787-9 could carry up to 325 passengers to nearly every international destination that Southwest is considering from either the East or West Coast. The fuel-efficient airframe has been a popular choice with airlines around the world, although the chances of Southwest getting its hands on brand-new 787s in the near future are the biggest stumbling block. How far could Southwest fly?
Maximum range of its Boeing 737s against the long-haul aircraft it is reportedly weighing Southwest fleet Possible options Boeing 737 MAX 8 Flying today 3,500 Boeing 737 MAX 7 Still to be delivered 3,800 Airbus A321LR Narrowbody 4,000 Airbus A321XLR Narrowbody 4,700 Airbus A330neo Widebody 8,100 Boeing 787-9 Widebody · reported frontrunner 8,300 Maximum range in nautical miles.
Source: Boeing, Airbus According to Boeing, it has no available delivery slots for the remainder of the decade, although if Southwest is desperate to start its international push sooner than this, the airline could potentially get its hands on leased 787s or even tap the second-hand market for an even cheaper way to test the market. There are, however, other options that Southwest could consider.
Aircraft manufacturer Airbus is said to be courting Southwest in the hopes of winning a major new order, pitching the narrowbody A321LR and A321XLR as possible narrowbody long-haul aircraft that would allow Southwest to start transatlantic European flights at a much lower cost than operating widebody aircraft. Southwest could also be persuaded to buy the widebody Airbus A330neo, which has a shorter range than the Dreamliner but can be bought at a discount.
Whatever aircraft Southwest chooses (if at all), bringing in a new aircraft type into its fleet mix will create a lot more operational complexity for the airline. Southwest’s entire operation has been built around the Boeing 737 – it knows the aircraft inside and out, and its entire operation is built around this aircraft. Southwest will also have to fundamentally rethink its service for long-haul operations.
Until now, Southwest’s custom galleys haven’t allowed it to serve substantial meals or hot food, or even use beverage carts in the aisle. The airline has already invoked clauses in its pilot and flight attendant contracts, allowing it to negotiate with the unions to discuss what long-haul international flying might look like for aircrew.
As it stands, the flight attendant contract is mainly focused on its domestic operations, but there are provisions for its limited international network, which only covers Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean. Adding long-haul destinations will require new negotiations with aircrew, which will cover working conditions such as maximum flying and duty hours, minimum rest requirements, and potentially incentive pay for flying to certain destinations.
Southwest has already submitted paperwork to the US Department of Transportation (DOT) seeking permission to fly to any country that has a so-called Open Skies agreement with the United States. An Open Skies agreement is a treaty between two countries that removes the hurdles and red tape that once made it so hard for airlines to enter a new international market.
The United States has Open Skies agreements with dozens of countries around the world, including all of the European Union and the United Kingdom, as well as India, Japan, Thailand, Australia, and South Korea, to name but a few. Southwest only started international flying in 2014, but this new potential focus on long-haul flying is being spearheaded by activist investor Elliott, which gained control of the airline’s board of directors a couple of years ago.
Elliott is responsible for overhauling Southwest’s business model, ending the iconic decades-old open seating policy, eliminating free checked luggage, and introducing a slew of new fare types. For its part, Southwest is remaining quiet on the latest rumors, saying that it has no fleet news to share. Could Southwest be tempted to buy Norse Atlantic? Norse Atlantic Airways is a struggling low-cost, long-haul airline that operates seven Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners.
The airline has struggled to gain a foothold in the key transatlantic market that its original business plan was built upon and has focused more on wet-leasing agreements with other airlines in recent years. Norse is said to be considering its options, including the potential for a full sale. In July, the airline said it would “move forward with a formal process, which may result in a sale, merger or partnership,” although nothing has yet come of that. Stay in the Loop Want to see more stories like this?
Add PYOK as a preferred source on Google, and we'll show up more often in your searches and Google News. Add PYOK as a Preferred Source Mateusz Maszczynski Mateusz Maszczynski honed his skills as an international flight attendant at the most prominent airline in the Middle East and has been flying ever since... most recently for a well known European airline. Matt is passionate about