Southwest Airline Case Analysis

Currently, Southwest Airlines Company achieved the higher net income in 2013 and widened its field of operations by the integration with AirTran Airways. It seems Southwest’s business is going pretty well. However, there are numerous problems from competitors who will cause negative effect on Southwest’ market leader position and market shares. This marketing plan will make a careful analysis of the current activities of Southwest Airlines Company, and then this marketing plan will create how the company develop Southwest’s market leadership and higher market shares within 5years.

Bargaining Power of Customers (high)- Customers has several options when it comes to flying. But the main attraction to customers are low prices and Southwest makes it known that they have some of the lowest airfares. The only way Southwest can take back the power is by offering direct flights to cities that other airliners do not offer. Besides the small occurrence of having a direct flight to a city that no other airline has, Southwest

Southwest Airlines' successful and profitable business model has been driven by several strategies: high aircraft utilization; standard fleet; charismatic leadership; low fare carrier; excellent customer service practice; attractive frequent flier program; innovative and creative marketing program; performance focused organizational culture; strategic human resources management and a lean operations.

The primary concerns for Human Resources at Southwest, is ensuring the company spirit is kept alive. Southwest promotes a culture promotes empowering the employee, making work not only fun but safe. So far this practice has been working quite well. Southwest is a lean and efficient company, and the staff pull together to get a task or job done in a timely manner. These are the primary concerns of human resources.

Southwest Airlines possesses a very flexible and dynamic organizational structure that allows it to react rapidly, adapt swiftly and view environmental changes as opportunities rather than threats. After September 11, many companies went bankrupt due to this there was an unmet demand of flights. Southwest has taken the need of people to fly faster from one place to another and used it to their advantage by offering safest, fastest and cheapest way. The improved website can help attract more customers. As, it uses only one kind of aircraft its engineers can model an alternative fuel to lower fuel cost and conserve the environment. As proven

Southwest Airlines clearly outlines their values in their corporate mission statement: The mission of Southwest Airlines is dedication to the highest quality of customer service delivered with a sense of warmth, friendliness, individual pride, and company spirit (www.southwest.com). This mission both describes the company 's approach to its workforce, and the customer at large. Rather than focusing on the financial side of the business, Southwest has been successful in creating an organization centered in fostering positive relationships with its employees and customers. The airline is also known for its ‘zany corporate culture ',

Southwest Airlines has faced many tribulations in its short history. From beating out the competition of well established airlines to creating one of the most successful airlines in U.S. aviation history, Southwest has always had a roadblock. Its first major roadblock was airline regulation. Southwest particularly wanted to deregulate the airline industry so that it could expand, and participate in interstate commerce. Regulation of the airline industry, in its plainest sense, was against the most basic American business principle: capitalism. Southwest fought for deregulation and through the work of many other parties, the Airline Deregulation Act of 1978 was signed into law by President Carter. Southwest’s first major hurdle was behind them, but little did they know that its next was right around the corner.

In the opinion of Dr. Grace S. Thomson, “a heterogeneous mix of long and short-haul in very thing segments, passenger, density, and per capita income at end points gives [Southwest Airlines] competitive advantage. The way to establish a company in such a market as the airline industry would be to strategically expand in to airports with less competition. Southwest Airline capitalized on this fact to become a national airline (Keller 2008). Southwest Airlines satisfies what were once negligible markets. Southwest serves “64 cities in 411 non-stop city pairs” (Thompson 2008). Saturating these markets has allowed Southwest Airlines to expand without putting a strain on its pocket book (Keller

Southwest wanted to stress the importance of low operating costs. To do this they implemented many strategies. They operated only one type of jet—Boeing 737s. This minimized their spare part inventories, cost them less to train maintenance and repair personnel. They were also the launch customer for Boeing 's 737-300, 737-500, and the 737-700 jets, and this enabled them to receive a big discount. They incorporated ticketless travel and save the

This proposal addresses the needed steps to be taken in order for Southwest Airlines to see continued growth in the airline industry. Southwest Airlines has been able to remain one of the most profitable airlines in the industry for an extended period of time. Even with the hindrance of the 2001 terrorist attacks involving airplanes and the U.S recession of 2008, Southwest has continued to see strong revenue growth. Meanwhile, other companies were experiencing major losses and in some cases folding. Southwest Airlines has capitalized on the company’s strength of being the top low cost

Research topic: Southwest Airlines Company is looking to establish a global presence in either Vietnam or Spain. This research paper is to help analyze both countries and to determine which of the two countries Southwest Airlines Company should enter. The second purpose of this research paper is to determine how Southwest Airlines Company should enter the country. This paper proposes to answer four questions: Who is Southwest Airlines Company? What does Southwest Airlines Company do? Which country should Southwest Airlines Company enter; Vietnam, or Spain? How should Southwest enter that country; by investing in a facility, marketing products, or joint venture? The participants are students of Mount Washington College, Global Issues: Business, Government, & Society course BADM364, team B. Team B members are: Kyle Forbes, Adam Paquette, Nina Scarpino, Louie E. Watson, and Cheryl Kessler. Research methods applied include research and discussion to compare and analyze findings to determine which country makes the best fit for Southwest Airlines Co. global business strategy. The data analysis will compare each country’s history, economy, politics, government, culture, demographics, infrastructure, how business is done, and how Southwest has done business in

Southwest Airlines encourages respect, innovation, a caring attitude and strives to adhere to all labor and employment laws which includes respecting privacy and equal opportunity. With a strong concern for avoiding corruption and avoiding anti-competitive behavior, they work hard to maintain accountability of all business practices. An example of this is the promotion of competition to provide consumers low air fares and a variety of high quality air service offerings across the US. This shows their devotion to the community they serve and maintains the company culture.

Southwest Airlines provides short haul, high frequency, point-to-point, low-fare services to and from 58 cities across the United States. The company is known for its low-cost fares and superior customer service in the airline industry. The company was started in 1971 with a motto still lived by today, "If you get your passengers to their destinations when they want to get there, on time, at the lowest possible fares, and make darn sure they have a good time doing it, people will fly your airline." This motto has been effective for the company because they recently reported their 58th straight quarterly profit.

Southwest was one of the most fuel sophistry airlines, but the continuing uprising fuel costs made the airline improve the fuel efficiency of its fleet by purchasing new Boeing 737-700s. They chose to purchase instead of rent to improve cash reserves and have less debt to total capitalization compared to other

Over the years Southwest Airlines has steadily grew, but their growth has been highly controlled. This highly controlled growth has allowed them to avoid the trap of growing beyond their means. With the acquisition of AirTran Air, it accelerated Southwest Airlines’ entry into the international markets. As we hold a large investment in Southwest Airlines, I believe this merger with AirTran Air will not affect the strategy and culture of Southwest Airlines. Southwest Airlines’ strategy and culture has a history of being successful as well as creating large profits for the company and its stakeholders. I do see Southwest Airlines maintaining their laser like focus on their basic strategy, but it will take time to fully transition Southwest Airlines’ strategy and culture to AirTran Air. With this said we should retain our investment in Southwest Airlines as the company has been consistently profitable for decades and has weathered hardships such as, the September 11 terrorist attacks, and the 2008-2009 recession.