All-Narrowbody Giant: The Southwest Airlines Fleet In 2022
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- Опубликовано: 14 фев 2022
- 2021 marked half a century since Southwest Airlines commenced operations. In the five decades that have followed, the Dallas-headquartered low-cost carrier has amassed a huge but near-uniform fleet consisting of more than 700 aircraft from the same aircraft family. Although Southwest’s entire fleet consists of Boeing 737s, the airline seemed to be at a bit of a crossroads in recent years- even considering adopting the Airbus A220 into its fleet. Let’s look at this somewhat recent dilemma, as well as the current Southwest fleet, in 2022.
Article link: simpleflying.com/southwest-ai... 
Развлечения
It would be so perfect if they had just one more aircraft, meaning they had 737 in their fleet
Haha yeah
A few weeks ago they had 737 in their fleet.
@@stewiegriffin12341 source please?
@@vansh3451 It was on Southwest’s Wikipedia page. Now it says 735.
Spoilerrrrrrrr lol
I still think Southwest qualifies as a Low-Cost Carrier, but our perceptions have changed. With the likes of Frontier, Allegiant, Spirit, and Ryanair, the Ultra Low-Cost Carrier (ULCC) model has proliferated. I actually think that the number of true Low-Cost Carriers has decreased through the years. As others have said, Southwest seems to mainly compete with mainline carriers, but for the average traveler checking a bag from middle America, the savings can add up, particularly from smaller markets.
Don’t confuse low fair carrier vs low cost carrier. Southwest costs are now nearly that of the big 3. They themselves are now a legacy carrier. They actually get a revenue premium in many cases
The problem with Southwest is the fact that sometimes their prices is barely low cost. On certain routes, they are barely cheaper than Full Service Airlines.
Especially during high season, prices are inflated significantly.
@@nntflow7058 yeah honestly the prices aren’t incredible. The only reason I’m still flying with them is because my city is a major hub for them (Nashville) and I’ll take a direct flight over a connecting flight any day.
The legacy carriers compete with Southwest pricing where as Southwest is in business to turn a profit. If Southwest did not exist, the legacies would have much higher fares.
Southwest is more so an "affordable" or "value" airline than a "low cost" airline. You can often find cheaper flights elsewhere and the other big airlines have mostly caught up on listed ticket price (ignoring their low fare deals which are awesome if you can make them work), but in terms of cost effectiveness if you have bags, and convenience in things like many different departure times, route options, flexible and generous rewards points transfers, boarding process, and seat layout they are still hard to beat. Their flight crews are also always super friendly, which is anecdotal, but probably reflects on their working conditions.
They are the bang for buck option in contrast to airlines like Ryanair and Spirit that do everything possible to have the lowest advertised price.
Southwest Airlines is more that it’s the Costco of airlines. Affordable, high quality, good customer service, but to do that they have to do things a little different. Many have tried to copy both of their models but they just don’t ever get close.
I love the Max 8. The modern Sky interior and ambient lighting make it a very enjoyable airplane to fly in.
That SKY interior is in the -800 NG as well, but I will say its nice either way, the A/C seems to be ehh, in the MAX version though
This is a very well made video. As someone who gets the pleasure of flying on these aircraft every day, keeping the single fleet type makes it a lot easier. Would I love to see a 787 added to the mix? Very much so. But we have a very simple, successful and profitable operation.
As for questioning if Southwest is a “low cost carrier” … The “Southwest Effect” is still alive and well. More obvious in the newer cities which have seen fares dip significantly as the legacy carriers have to match the Southwest price. Less obvious are the cities which we’ve been for quite a while as legacy carriers have to continue to match Southwest fare. Think of it as 4 gas stations at an intersection. Southwest sets the lowest price and to compete, the 3 others have to either match or beat that price to continue gathering business.
I love Southwest. I would love to see them at the new to come MAX 10 to their lineup. I really want to fly on one. Looks like United to start though.
Love these fleet video's, they're so informative and interesting
Yes!
Another fleet video!
I cannot wait for the next one
Been flying Southwest for the past thirty years; love the 37s.
The 800s and Max jets are a dream to fly on. They are cadillacs compared to the cramped(albeit nostalgic for me) -700s with the old interiors.
I love southwest, best experiences on them. Staff is amazing, low cost, convenient times, and much more to love
Flown SWEST since 90s. A few trips already booked for '22..Love the MAX. Flew on it before it was grounded. LAX to Cancun.Then another trip.
I’ve only flown on SWA twice, once when I was really young. We get them daily into MEM and I LUV catching them while out spotting.
To be honest I love the southwest livery
I have flown and still do fly Southwest Airlines and I love the airline.They have beautiful aircraft,kind a welcoming crew and great IFE (in flight entertainment).
I wish they would experiment with some widebody planes
They don’t have a big enough market/demand for widebody aircraft. Plus, routes and competition don’t make it any easier to even consider. Basically, financially, it wouldn’t make any sense. I think the only way South West would ever consider widebodies is if they had really high demand between big city hubs (like NYC, Dallas, LA, and etc).
They’ve got a few segments where it might seem like a widebody would be useful, but then what? What do you do with the widebody after that segment? They get so much more flexibility by just throwing more planes at the problem that I don’t see it happening.
Southwest is my airline of choice! We have flown them out of PHL as often as their schedule allows us, as PHL is a "hub" for them. We've also flown them from OAK to OGG (Maui) and back and even if that was a 5-hour flight on a narrow body jet, we didn't feel cramped (it helped that our SWA credit card miles paid for the round trip in points). Booking and re-booking is just so easy to do and no fees is a big saver, compared to the legacy airlines, as we've flown AA whenever we couldn't book a SWA flight and do notice a difference.
I will love to book with Southwest Airlines whenever I get too travel next time.
flew a 737 max 800 from las to oahu and was really impressed with comfort and space for a single isle aircraft!!!! i sat in back in a isle seat. i was bummed we couldnt take a widebody united or american or hawaiian airlines
I've flown Southwest numerous times back in the 90's & early 2000's.....mostly to Las Vegas. Their flight attendants are some of the best. I also like their safety record. For an airline that has a huge number of takeoffs & landings due to their shorter routes, their record is pretty amazing. I believe they had 1 passenger killed by an exploding engine in flight.....1 passenger accidently killed by other passengers who were restraining him when he was violent and trying to access the cockpit......and then 1 passenger in a car that was killed when a flight ran off the end of the runway striking a car on a road below. No passengers killed via a crash.
> 736 aircraft
Southwest really dropping the ball there on not having 737 737s
Southwest a220 would be cursed
ULCCs like Southwest and Ryan Air are captured by Boeing. There's no way they can remain cheap if they start using anything other than the 737. The extra training and maintenance cost will kill their cost advantage.
SWA is not, and never has been an Ultra Low Cost Carrier
Haven't flown with the airline since 2014, which was an outlier as I mostly did with family in the mid-late 2000's
My first time ever flying on a Max 8 was with Southwest flying from Lihue, Kauai to San Diego across the Pacific! It was really astounding how quiet the new LEAP engines are.
The 737MAX is probably used to go to Hawaii so when it falls out of the sky.. Plops into the ocean depths and disappears forever... Good business plan.
@@cjswa6473 ha....ha....ha.....ha.
Yes I have flown southwest they are amazing
In maybe 2008 I took Southwest from Las Vegas to Tampa, two stops I think though it seems like three. Nobody else stayed on that 737 the whole trip. I wasn’t allowed to get out of the plane. It was stupid but not entirely unpleasant. Ate breakfast before boarding, had snacks on board, dinner afterwards. Somewhat inexpensive but not a great bargain.
The funny thing is I got a Southwest Airlines add while watching this video
Southwest picked a winner when they went with a all 737 fleet. It has proven over the years why in both it and Southwest's performance using it. Even though the 737 got a bad reputation from some carrier's use Southwest has proven what a reliable machine it truly is. Amazing when you have qualified pilots and maintenance staff operating it. FLY NAVY!!!
Southwest's continual commitment to the 737 proves nothing except the benefit of being first. They already had over 250 737s of the -200, -300, and -500 variants in service by the time the A319 made its first flight in 1995. Once their MAX airframes reach end-of-life in a few decades, and they have to switch types, they will very much consider buying Airbus.
@@GintaPPE1000 - The cockpit screen layout will be close to that in the MAX on the jet Boeing eventually will make to replace the MAX. Transition will be easier than going to Airbus, saving time and cost.
737s before MAX is a great series of planes, because MAX delivered by Wall street oriented executives.
During investigation it was revealed that Lion Air (the one that crashed first) asked for MAX conversion training for their 737s pilots, the Boeing internal memo called them (Lion Air) stupid.
@@GintaPPE1000 Southwest may have been the first one to go with an all 737 fleet but the launch customer for the 737 was Lufthansa.
Southwest is no longer a "low cost" airline. Legacy airlines have caught up on pricing. However, WN does have some convenient non-stop routes.
Yeah but since ticket prices are the same with Southwest 2 bags are free so really its $30-$80 cheaper. Plus point to point is better than hub and spoke
I personally would love for southwest to get a few bigger planes my flights from Oakland to Phoenix to Cleveland all the gates and terminals for southwest were beyond crowded in 2019 leaving people to sit on the floor they definitely could benefit from more seats on their planes
Wonder if they’ll ever take the MAX 9 or MAX 10 for some high-demand routes. As for the “hybrid carrier argument”, i’d consider them as such if they go down the Malindo Air / Batik Air route. Personal IFEs for all, a separate premium cabin, some basic food and drink, decent baggage allowance, buy on board will be acceptable, all at an affordable price.
Don't think they will. For one major reason. Midway airport. The Max9 and 10 would have alot of weight restrictions getting in or out. I know they like the flexibility of any aircraft can fly any route. Could see them take some on eventually though when Boeing is trying to sell some for cheap at the end of the lines life.
Heck ya on the MAX 10!
I'm curious as to how many major passenger airlines, such as Southwest and AirBaltic, have only a single aircraft family type in their fleet.
Southwest is best classified "value" carrier. Focused on finding the perfect balance between fair price and product. They offer what most passengers want and omit the stuff they can do without. They offer a generous 32" of legroom, free drinks and a small snack on every flight, 2 free bags, and nothing else. Thats all most passengers need and that's what they provide.
Just checked American, United, and Southwest for the same itinerary (Washington DC to Chicago) in June 2022. Southwest had the highest fares of the three, despite flying to Midway rather than O'Hare.
Have you checked BWI to Midway? Southwest probably charges a premium to fly into DC while BWI is one of their bigger “hubs”
2:52 “Low cost carrier” is referring to their business model, not their fares.
The 737 is both a blessing and a curse for Boeing. If it wasn't for Southwest demanding the aircraft manufacturer to keep the major commonality with legacy 737s, the MAX may have been a different airplane. Heck, Boeing could have even thought about coming up with new aircraft to eventually replace the 737.
It wasn't Southwest, it was AA.
@@karlp8484 - Southwest have through time held Boeing back not making greater leaps on the 737.
There is demand for the 737 as you can see. The 737 is still the 737. I am pretty sure of the max accident never happen, things would be very different.
Southwest is considering testing a few A220-300's that aircraft is becoming a hot seller globally
I just noticed that southwest have their own ground handling services
Yes I’ve flow on the southwest Boeing 737-700,800 and 800 max. I’ll always fly Southwest Airlines there my number one airline im loyal to southwest.
I would call Southwest a mainline carrier, it’s easily competing with Delta, United and American.
Compared with the overstuffed seats on American and the brown color scheme…I’ll flight an “airy” comfortable less claustrophobic 37 of SW all day.
I always try and get a -800 when flying southwest. Better experience than the -700’s
The A220 was definitely a manipulation move against Boeing for better pricing. They would never take on two types of aircraft. Too costly. And Boeing was not about to share them with Airbus.
It doesn't matter much even if they get an aircraft for a big discount. But if nobody wants to fly on it, or worse, currently end-of-the-line products (There's no way 737 gonna get any more big upgrades without new fusealage or re-training), then you just got a million-dollar liability. No matter 20 or 30 years they'll still need to move away from 737 eventually. So why don't they just start packing now? Might as well give Boeing some more wake up call while they're at it...
@@Mar1s3z mmmm. Calling the 737MAX a liability is reaching. Hard AF. It's proven itself repeatedly since it's been ungrounded. The only people complaining about it are fanboys and aviation nerds in general. The general public has not said a word of negativity since it returned to the skies. Airlines are still ordering it left and right. It would seem that multi-million dollar companies are not buying planes that would only become liabilities. That makes zero sense. I get the feeling that they know what they're doing. Boeing dropped the ball but they picked themselves up and got right back in the game. Also, this is probably the last iteration of the 737. So you and everyone else who screams about how you can't update the 737 anymore, may just have the little blue fairy come down and grant your wish of a 737 replacement as the next big thing from Boeing. And 20-30 years is a long way away. And they may already be working on something. Who knows? But the 737MAX is doing absolutely fine with or without your support. Southwest made the right choice, obviously.
@@KingTriton1837 I didn't own an airlines, so what do I know?
One thing I do know is, "The general public has not said a word of negativity." is the most absurd entry I've read this entire month. I might even have mistaken you working for being a Boeing employee even. I believe you were born before 2019, yes? It's in the news outlet everywhere... And it's not the McDonell Douglas age of fix-and-forget anymore. Any scrutiny will be in the digital archive untill socieity decided that justice has been served.
And for Boeing, It's still a long journey for them. If you wanted any more proof look at their stock prices. Even though airline business are rebounding back up from Covid, It's still relatively eventless for Boeing. Going down, even...
And while you're there, if you think Boeing got their shit together already... Then I have nothing to say. Also some more epic quotes from you.
"Airlines are still ordering it left and right" So does A320Neo and A220. Even more sucessful now than ever thanks to the MAX incident and Covid.
"20-30 years is a long way away." Look at A380, marvelous technology. That's 15 years already. 787? That's 12 (Problem-ridden) years. A350? That's almost 9 with the notable problem being it's paint. World goes round fast, isn't it grandpa?
"Also, this is probably the last iteration of the 737" It *IS* the last iteration of the 737, and I've said it before as the reason southwest might be packing to A220, Do you even read my comments grandpop?
@@Mar1s3z Or Southwest keeps with Boeing as they should to cut costs and maintain a great relationship with them and get the 797 when that comes out, as it'll likely fit right in better than any Airbus jet.
Now about the "general public not saying a single thing of negativity," it's pretty obvious he means AFTER the whole incident thing, as the 737 Max has now proven itself to be completely capable.
@@railsofchicagoandbeyond8832 Only time will tell which direction Southwest will be heading towards. Which I rekon won't be long from now.
Also, Boeing might have proven it's products. How about it's ways to conduct business? You know we now live in a world where every titbit are considered by the public. As fake-arse as it might be. including company behavior? And you realized that the general public I'm talking about isn't just the Americans? But European and Asia market as well?
I still remembered the day CAAC grounded the MAX first instead of the FAA. and probably the last to certified it back in service as well. The market has changed. So does the politics that inevitably involved. It's up to the company which side pf politics and how they will harvest the revenue that has also changed.
Who knows in 40-50 years from now we might see a Chinese-Russian Airliner eating up the market if Boeing still hasn't change it's way of doing business. Might be sooner even.
It's about time to do a clean sheet narrow body
next indigo fleet please
I hate saying it but I’ve flown big, small, short and long. I have no problem with southwest. Never had an issue. Like the interior. Feels more roomy than some planes twice the size. SW uses smart colors inside and for me, works excellent. I also like how they board. I can get on last!
If southwest wants an small aircraft they should check out the Boeing 737-600. And it’s still a Boeing product. And I think it would suit them pretty good.
Fun fact south west airlines used to operate boeing 727
Boieng 737 is the best plane for southwest it was one of the best planes in the world and Max 8 is now the safest in the world.
I was hoping they wouldn’t go 737-7max. The smaller planes are so cramped
Nice marketing strategy by Southwest Airlines.
The way I see it they are trying to drum up this 220 stuff so that they can get a discount on 737s.
Southwest Airlines Should Stay With Boeing Jets, Easy to Hire Mechanics & Getting the parts They need!!💕💕
There is not a snowball's chance that there will be another variant after the MAX. Boeing has sucked every drop of juice that they can out of the 737 airframe and it is now just a dessicated husk. No, Boeing will have to design a brand new, clean sheet, medium haul, narrowbody aircraft and everybody, including SouthWest, knows this. However, the problem for Southwest is that any successor would likely be larger, as to also serve as a 757 replacement and better compete with the A321 in the midmarket segment.
I think Southwest should keep its entire 737 fleet cause the 737 is my fav :D
They were never serious about the A220, the board required consideration of the A220.
MAX is the end of the line though, and the MAX only happened because they would've had a gap for way too long.
A220 is unlikely, but I don't consider it crazy at all.
that’s how they save but don’t have the lowest fares anymore
Boeing money maker for Max-7🛫🤓
Southwest also refunds a passenger’s additional seat(s) should they need them, regardless of circumstances. They call these Pax POS’s or passengers of size.The ONLY airline to do it.
there should be 1 more aircraft to have 737 737s
I really hope the new CEO was shots when he said he would consider assigned seating. I've never cared for the open seating group boarding.
The next Boeing aircraft will need to have a lot of commonality to the 737 or it will bankrupt southwest to switch to a new aircraft type.
Keep flying 737.
Ive only been on three airlines, 99% southwest 0.9% United and 0.1% Norwegian, Ive only been on Norwegian once.
I doubt there was any real consideration for Airbus
Strange. For Boeing, a replacement for the ancient 737 is "too far in the future," while Airbus has already replaced smaller A320 family airplanes with A220s and has plans to replace state-of-the-art A320neos with hydrogen airplanes around 2035 (not to mention the A220-500s).
No wonder is Airbus the market leader!
Boeing also has plans to replace the 737 lol. Read about the FSA (Future Small Airplane). The FSA was originally going to replace the 737NG but customers like Southwest and American demanded another 737 iteration so the FSA introduction was merely pushed off. Given what we’re seeing now with Boeing helping Allegiant with pilot conversion training for their 737 MAX order, both Boeing and Airbus will be more willing to help airlines with pilot conversion training in the years ahead to lower risk to carriers
@@MrArod356 The official publication by Boeing's CEO is that Boeing is starting to build a foundation for a future replacement. Whatever FSA or NMA they once had was officially canceled. Boeing is about 20 years behind Airbus with such an airplane.
@@Luke_Go A FSA and NMA will be based on 787 tech, Boeing “just” have to figure out what size to fit it into.. and there has to be new tech engines as well.
Yeah I wouldn't call them a low cost carrier these days hard to find a deal on them unless it's a really short flight
I don’t particularly enjoy flying Southwest because I really don’t like the no-assigned seating policy. With that being said, I think it’s fair to say that they do offer deals in the sense that the same fare is raised significantly once they abandon a route. Nobody cares what Spirit wants to charge but the same can’t be said about Southwest.
Southwest made travel affordable..but they havnt been the cheapest ticket for me in years...
Greed of top management at Boeing has cost lives and been a big problem for Max 8 users, especially Southwest. They were a quality airplane company and could be again. I will be on a Max 8 next week and I think the airplane is fine now that pilots know the whole story on the maneuvering augmentation and are give simulator training for its use. A longer gear would have been a better fix for the bigger and better engines, but that would have been expensive. What Boeing needs to do next time is build a modern Airbus.
My last ten United flights have all been less than Southwest tickets.
Some A220's would be so great for SWA
Did anyone else notice that they have 736 737s?
boeing planes dont sean to last long north west airlines kept dc9's for apx 35 years
At the time this comment is posted, there are 738 likes on this video lol
First
I hope they replace them with air bus
airbus sucks. Americans want Boeing's, not some eu junk
@@dave8599 have you flown in an Airbus? Or is just patriotic junk? Boeing planes, what I have flown, are not as comfortable as Airbus planes. And Airbus has had less issue with its plane than Boeing. Don't forget that airlines refused deliveries from the other plant of Boeing in the US (Alabama if I am not mistaken). I think both Boeing and Airbus planes has their good and bad sides. Is up the airline and their business plans that decide what to buy.
That's like wishing for easyJet to go back to Boeing. Ain't happening in this lifetime or the next
@@KingTriton1837 is not business smart. They have major profits from fleet communality :)). So Airbus for Southwest is like easyJet going to Boeing :))
@@bogdanmihai7106 so this thread is turning into an echo chamber.... You literally put sprinkles on my comment!!! 🤣🤣🤣🤣. Thank you!
Your paying for the "free" bags as the their fares are not low cost so if you have one checked bag your still paying for two just like the cup of soda and snack it's just all good marketing
This is old.
I fly united for less than southwest
I love southwest, but I think boeing is finished. Theyre such a sketchy company.
*Very ugly colours sadly*
stands out though, isn't just another white body with a logo on the tail
You can see that plane from the ground and know it is a Southwest Plane, while it is flying.
The pathetic plant surgically arrange because thumb adversely shop off a foolish interactive. courageous, ethereal biology
Could you make a video on CFM vs Pratt and Whitney engines? Both the companies seem to have around 35% market share each, espcially in single aisle aircraft: www.statista.com/statistics/1099835/global-aircraft-engine-manufacturer-market-share/
A video on the comparison of their engines and how they are developed would be really interesting!