Verified Document

Southwest Airlines: SWOT Low-Cost Carrier Term Paper

However, "Southwest is planning for the day when things get even worse. The airline is already looking at 2010, when its fuel hedges completely disappear, leaving it with a fuel bill that would be $1.4 billion higher than in 2005 - an increase equal to 20% of its current revenue - if prices stay the same as they are today. Southwest's fuel costs now average $15 a passenger, according to a study by the federal statistics bureau that will be released this week. That compares with $9 a passenger in 2000." (Maynard, 2005) However, Southwest is reluctant to raise fares, as it has branded itself as a budget airline, and it has no real perks to eliminate for passenger or staff. Some industry analysts suggest it has a little wiggle room with salaries, but will that lead to the labor disputes that blighted the major carriers?

Southwest seems wise to continue its branding as a low cost carrier. But in the face of JetBlue's potential use of its marketing strategies, and the end of its fuel protections, the airline may have to accept advertising...

JetBlue has done so on its 100-person carrier crafts from Boeing. For this industry pioneer to flourish, given the demise of the fuel-hedging component of its business strategy, and to capitalize upon the major carrier's current weaknesses, JetBlue may have to take a cue from its competitors.
Works Cited

Crotty, W. (11 Oct 2005) "JetBlue's New Look." The Motley Fool. Retrieved 21 Oct 2005 at http://aol.fool.com/News/mft/2005/mft05101123.htm

Southwest Airlines. (2005) Official Website. Retrieved 21 Oct 2005 at http://www.southwest.com/

Maynard, Micheline. (61 Oct 2005) "So Southwest Is Mortal After All." Business News. The Sunday New York Times. Retrieved 21 Oct 2005 at http://www.nytimes.com/2005/10/16/business/16southwest.html

Zimmerman, Shannon. (21 Oct 2005) "Southwest Airlines? Topflight Always?" The Motley Fool. The Motley Fool. Retrieved 21 Oct 2005 at http://aol.fool.com/news/commentary/2005/commentary05102104.htm?logvisit=y&source=eptaollnk308100&npu=y

Sources used in this document:
Works Cited

Crotty, W. (11 Oct 2005) "JetBlue's New Look." The Motley Fool. Retrieved 21 Oct 2005 at http://aol.fool.com/News/mft/2005/mft05101123.htm

Southwest Airlines. (2005) Official Website. Retrieved 21 Oct 2005 at http://www.southwest.com/

Maynard, Micheline. (61 Oct 2005) "So Southwest Is Mortal After All." Business News. The Sunday New York Times. Retrieved 21 Oct 2005 at http://www.nytimes.com/2005/10/16/business/16southwest.html

Zimmerman, Shannon. (21 Oct 2005) "Southwest Airlines? Topflight Always?" The Motley Fool. The Motley Fool. Retrieved 21 Oct 2005 at http://aol.fool.com/news/commentary/2005/commentary05102104.htm?logvisit=y&source=eptaollnk308100&npu=y
Cite this Document:
Copy Bibliography Citation

Related Documents

SWOT Analysis: Southwest Airlines Southwest Airlines, Having
Words: 1548 Length: 5 Document Type: Essay

SWOT Analysis: Southwest Airlines Southwest Airlines, having a well-established business incarnation throughout the United States is among the most competitive passenger airlines in terms of pricing strategies and customer services. The company has always been pursuing a growth strategy for its business operations in the local market. Currently, it has customers from all over the United States that consider it a low cost quality airline service provider. The company operates with

Southwest Airline Is One of
Words: 6479 Length: 20 Document Type: Term Paper

And many have got successful too in earning the market share. The emerging competition by new companies is a growing threat for the company and it should be tackled properly to avoid any future disturbances. In order to further describe the competition Southwest Airlines is facing a Competitive Profile Matrix is designed. The following Competitive Profile Matrix tells about the tough competitors which are in a good position to have

Southwest Airlines
Words: 5173 Length: 19 Document Type: Term Paper

Southwest Airlines Before 1978, the federal government regulated the U.S. airline industry. Airlines were given profitable routes but were also obligated to serve unprofitable routes in the public's interest. Increases in airline costs were routinely passed along to customers due to the lack of price competition. In 1978, the airline deregulation act enabled airlines to set their own fares and enter or exit routes without government approval (Lam, 2003). The major airlines

Southwest Airlines and Airlines
Words: 1912 Length: 6 Document Type: Case Study

Southwest Airlines Since its inception, Southwest Airlines has grown significantly to become one of the most reputed, low-cost, and longest-standing airline that offers the largest number of domestic flights within the United States. For more than four decades now, the company has been able to sustain its appeal to consumers and its low cost originator image, even though that discernment and view has now become more of an old tale than

Southwest Airlines
Words: 1602 Length: 5 Document Type: Essay

Business Southwest Airlines (SWA) has been a strong growth company for the last 40 years mainly due to its focal point on cutting costs. Southwest Airlines (SWA) follows the Cost Leadership Strategy in terms of Porter's four generic strategies and is the epitome of Blue Ocean Strategy in its simultaneous pursuit of differentiation and low cost (Kim & Mauborgne, 2009. That SWA is cost-focused is evident from Liang et al.'s (2009) analysis

Southwest Airlines Strategy
Words: 7450 Length: 25 Document Type: SWOT Analysis

Southwest AirlinesTable of ContentsAbstract 1Introduction 1Organizational Setting 2Integration of Chapter Concepts to the Organizational Setting 3Controlling Service Quality 3Biblical Justification 3Customer Value 3Biblical Justification 4Lean Management 4Biblical Justification 4Supplier Management 5Biblical Justification 5Customer Relationship Management (CRM) 5Biblical Justification 6Balanced Scorecard 6Biblical Justification 6Strategy Map 6Biblical Justification 7Process Control 7Biblical Justification 7Conclusion 7References 8Appendices 9Strategic Analysis Data 9Environmental Scan 9SWOT Analysis 9Strategic Issues 9Operating Plan 9Communication of Plan 10AbstractThis paper provides

Sign Up for Unlimited Study Help

Our semester plans gives you unlimited, unrestricted access to our entire library of resources —writing tools, guides, example essays, tutorials, class notes, and more.

Get Started Now