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The Man Who Saved Southwest Airlines With A '10-Minute' Idea
The early 1970s were a turbulent time for a little startup called Southwest Airlines. The company had a tiny fleet of just four airplanes that flew to three destinations — all of which were in Texas. But by 1972, Southwest had already posted a net loss of $1.6 million, and the company was forced to sell one of its planes. (www.npr.org) Más...Sort type: [Top] [Newest]
I can still remember in the early 80's after they came into LIT. I flew to DAL and back as a pax and it was strange going to my car at LIT and seeing the same plane I just came in on back in the air. Pilots kissing roll marks and grabbing the 1st turnouts were a change, You wondered why everybody didn't do it.
What got me was the pilots going threw the seat backs pulling out trash. It was a "little engine that could" mentality. I loved that SWA. If one of the newer "discount" airlines had that same attitude and ability to turn planes, I would be happy to fly them.
With the larger planes, the 10 minute turn is not possible any longer but they are still turning quicker than the legacies, for those same reasons. Love 'em or hate 'em, they are hard to beat,
As a pilot you should appreciate this: I have never heard an announcement from the cockpit that we will be pushing back as soon as we get our paperwork.When the door is closed, they are ready to go. The "behind the scenes" people must be first rate.
You think SWA is bad? Try Jetstar Australia what a crapper of a budget airline very dis functional. If you fly to Auckland with them from YSSY guess what you bags and rags end up in OAKLAND USA. Not bad.
Well that's better than London Ontario iunstad of London UK!
I don't recall saying they were bad.