In late , Southwest began actively seeking the full repeal of the Wright Amendment restrictions. In late , Missouri was added to the list of permissible destination states via a transportation appropriations bill. At a June 15, joint press conference held by the city of Dallas, the city of Ft. Worth, Dallas-Ft. Worth Airport, American Airlines, and Southwest Airlines, the said parties announced a tentative agreement on how the Wright Amendment was to be phased out. Both the U. Senate and House of Representatives passed Wright-related legislation on September 29, , and it was signed into law by PresidentGeorge W.
Bush on October 13, The new law became effective on October 16, , when the FAA Administrator notified Congress that any new aviation operations occurring as a result of the new law could be accommodated without adverse effect to the airspace. Southwest started selling tickets under the new law on October 19, Highlights of the agreement are the immediate elimination of through-ticketing prohibitions, and unrestricted flights to domestic destinations eight years after the legislation takes effect.
Because of the agreement, nationwide service became possible for Southwest; the law also defined the maximum number of gates at Love Field. Southwest remains the dominant passenger airline at Love Field, maintains its headquarters, hangars, training centers, and flight simulators adjacent thereto, and reflects its ties to Love Field in its stock exchange ticker symbol LUV.
In , Southwest contracted with Pratt and Whitney to supply the proprietary Ecopower water pressure-washing system, which allows Southwest to clean grime and contaminants off engine turbine blades while the aircraft is parked at the gate. Frequent use of the Ecopower system is estimated to improve fuel efficiency by about 1. In some cases the planes were allowed to fly for up to 30 months after the inspection deadlines had passed, rendering them unfit to fly.
Records indicate that thousands of passengers were flown on aircraft deemed unsafe by federal standards. Southwest declined comment at the time, and US Representative James Oberstar advised a hearing would be held. While some preferential hiring was indicated at the time of the purchase, the transaction ultimately did not include the purchase of any aircraft, facilities or transfers of employees directly from ATA. On March 12, , Southwest Airlines voluntarily grounded 44 planes to check if they needed further inspection.
There have also been rumors that the FAA knew about Southwest Airlines violations but decided not to fine the airline because it would disrupt the service of Southwest. The FAA gave Southwest two years in which to pay the fine. Less than one month after submitting its bid, Southwest learned on August 14 that it had lost the initial bidding to Republic Airways Holdings, and elected not to counter or pursue the deal further.
Industry experts had expected Southwest to win the initial round of bidding, allowing Southwest to grow its presence in Denver and serve international destinations. Additional details about the Southwest Promise are available at Southwest. Southwest is the only major U.
Southwest does not charge change fees, though fare differences might apply. Southwest is one of the most honored airlines in the world, known for a triple bottom line approach that contributes to the carrier's performance and productivity, the importance of its People and the communities they serve, and an overall commitment to efficiency and the planet.
Learn more about how the carrier gives back to communities across the world by visiting Southwest. Book Southwest Airlines' low fares online at Southwest. Southwest Airlines was incorporated in Texas and commenced Customer Service on June 18, , with three Boeing aircraft serving three Texas cities—Houston, Dallas, and San Antonio—and grew to become a major airline in when it exceeded the billion-dollar revenue mark. In , Southwest became the first major airline to offer ticketless travel.
In , Southwest became the first major airline to post a website with the launch of our "Home Gate. In , Southwest started its Southwest service to a destination outside the 48 contiguous states with service to Puerto Rico. In July , Southwest became an international airline with its first flights to Nassau, Bahamas; Montego Bay, Jamaica; and Aruba, and continues to expand.
In March , Southwest began serving the Hawaiian Islands. Read more about Southwest's Company History. In , more than 60, People worked to deliver exemplary Customer Service throughout the Southwest system. Southwest paid its first quarterly dividend in fourth quarter Download the current System Map. Download City Fact Sheets. In , Southwest crossed planes in its fleet.
However, only Missouri was granted an exception. Denver DEN service opened up in and remains a large base for the airline. Only in was the Wright Amendment scrapped. By the end of , the airline had crossed 88 million passengers flown in a year onboard of its Boeing aircraft. At this point, Southwest was mostly a domestic carrier. However, its passengers did want to travel internationally.
So, the airline received the necessary permissions to implement a codeshare with WestJet, a Canadian airline. Continuing this vein of expansion to major markets, in , the airline added flights to New York-LaGuardia.
In September , Southwest announced that it would purchase all outstanding common stalk of AirTran, thus acquiring the carrier. The next month, Southwest announced plans to offer WiFi onboard its fleet. The purchase closed in — the same year Southwest celebrated its 40th anniversary. The airline is one of the biggest customers and operators of the aircraft.
By the end of , the carrier had aircraft in its fleet and had flown over million revenue passengers. On March 1st, , Southwest and AirTran received FAA approval for a single operating certificate, which was a crucial part of the integration of the two airlines. Only a week later, Southwest received its first Boeing and showed it off on March 21st. All 88 of the s were subleased to Delta Air Lines, leaving Southwest with an all fleet.
Finally, in , Southwest launched its first international services out of Baltimore, heading to Aruba. Since then, the airline has expanded its services with focuses on Central America and the Caribbean. This plane went into service on October 1st on flight 1 from Dallas to Houston.
Dividends and share repurchase programs are currently suspended due to the negative financial effects from the COVID pandemic. From its first flights on June 18, , Southwest Airlines launched an era of unprecedented affordability in air travel described by the U. Department of Transportation as "The Southwest Effect," a lowering of fares and increase in passenger traffic wherever the carrier serves.
With 47 consecutive years of profitability through , Southwest is one of the most honored airlines in the world, known for a triple bottom line approach that contributes to the carrier's performance and productivity, the importance of its People and the communities they serve, and an overall commitment to efficiency and the planet.
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