Southwest Airlines is a super successful company that is one of the most loved and most flown domestic airlines in the United States. The company was established in 1967 by Rollin King and Herb Kelleher with the strategy of being the best low-cost airline in the United States, with low fares and on time travel between Dallas, San Antonio, and Houston. Southwest, as of 2013, has a fleet of 579 airplanes and flies between 89 destinations. Southwest’s success is the result of using the latest innovations to make the airline industry customer centered. This research paper will highlight some of the important strategies that Southwest has enacted to bring about their outstanding success. SWOT Analysis An evaluation of the internal strengths and weaknesses, and the external opportunities and threats--based on the case study and additional references--is as follows: Strengths-Internal • More departures than any other US airline • Diverse, upper management; very well run business • Considered the best low cost carrier in recent years • High capacity usage (few unfilled seats) • Dominates the short haul segment of the airline industry • Is one of the most profitable airlines, while many other airlines are unprofitable • Maintains very good relationships with its unions • It feels fun to fly on Southwest • …show more content…
Also, the fun company culture among the Southwest employees is impressive. Southwest’s employees are truly committed and engaged in doing their part to deliver great customer service and to make the company successful. Southwest’s management has done a great job with employee selection, training, and ongoing motivation, thus making the workplace extremely attractive to job applicants. Southwest has created a competitively powerful strategy that has been thought through down to the last detail, producing a low-cost competitive