Latest news with #OpenSkies
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Southwest Airlines hints at a significant international expansion
is hinting at an upcoming international expansion. The carrier has asked the Department of Transportation for permission to fly to any country the U.S. has an Open Skies aviation agreement with. Southwest currently offers flights to Mexico, the Caribbean and Central America. Southwest Airlines might have plans to stretch its wings further. In a filing with the Department of Transportation, the carrier has sought permission to fly to any country the U.S. has an Open Skies aviation agreement with. If approved, that could clear the way for Southwest to fly to Europe, Latin America, and parts of Asia and Africa. Southwest already offers a handful of international flights, servicing Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central America, but this would mark a potential overhaul of the airline's current service structure. It wouldn't be the first. Two months ago, Southwest announced it would be making changes to its 'bags fly free' policy as part of a wider shakeup. Any bookings made on or after May 28 will bring baggage charges for all but two kinds of passenger—those in the highest loyalty status or those who pay the most expensive tickets. The airline is also adding a fare on the same level as basic economy at other carriers, which has a number of restrictions and does not allow the passenger to make a seat assignment in advance. Flight credits, which saw expiration dates vanish during the pandemic, will also get a shelf life once again, disappearing if they're not used. These moves follow last year's, which included getting rid of open seating and expanding legroom in some seats. In the Tuesday filing to the Transportation Department, Southwest said it 'has repeatedly been found fit, willing and able to provide interstate and foreign air transportation.' This story was originally featured on Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
14-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Southwest wants permission to launch more international flights
Southwest asked the Department of Transportation for permission to fly to more than 100 countries. It comes as the budget airline works to overhaul its business model amid falling profits. For now, it's only possible to fly to Europe with Southwest thanks to an agreement with Icelandair. You might soon be able to take a Southwest Airlines flight to Europe. On Tuesday, the budget airline asked the Department of Transportation for permission to fly to any country with which the US has an Open Skies agreement. The State Department lists 123 such countries, representing most of the world. Meanwhile, Southwest currently serves 10 countries outside the US. Other than Mexico, they are all in Central America or the Caribbean. Open Skies agreements allow airlines to operate between two countries without restrictions on frequency or capacity. Southwest also wants permission to transport "persons, property, and mail" to any country that enters an aviation agreement with the US in the future. In the filing, the airline said that being granted such permission "will promote competition and increase the traveling public's ability to access Southwest's high-quality, low-fare service." A Southwest spokesperson told Reuters that the filing was "not necessarily indicative of anything forthcoming," and that it was taking advantage of streamlined regulatory procedures. The airline did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider. Southwest only operates Boeing 737 jets, which have a maximum range of around 4,370 miles, meaning the airline could not immediately operate true long-haul flights, but could fly some shorter routes across the Atlantic. The filing is the latest sign of Southwest shaking things up as falling profits force the airline to rethink its business model. It pioneered the no-frills theme taken up by other budget airlines around the world, which rely on add-on fees and keeping planes in the sky as much as possible. However, budget airlines have struggled post-pandemic, contending with changing consumer habits, increased fuel and labor costs, and domestic overcapacity that has made it harder to fill planes. Last July, Southwest announced that it would end its signature unassigned-seating policy and start charging for premium options with more legroom. In March, it said it would start charging passengers to check bags. That came six months after saying it wouldn't end this other signature policy, with "two bags fly free" listed as a registered trademark. Tuesday's filing isn't the first sign of Southwest's plans to expand operations. In February, it began interline operations with Icelandair, which lets passengers travel with both airlines on one ticket. That means you could start on a Southwest plane, then go on to many cities in Europe via Reykjavík. Read the original article on Business Insider Sign in to access your portfolio
Business Insider
14-05-2025
- Business
- Business Insider
Southwest wants permission to launch more international flights
You might soon be able to take a Southwest Airlines flight to Europe. On Tuesday, the budget airline asked the Department of Transportation for permission to fly to any country with which the US has an Open Skies agreement. The State Department lists 123 such countries, representing most of the world. Meanwhile, Southwest currently serves 10 countries outside the US. Other than Mexico, they are all in Central America or the Caribbean. Open Skies agreements allow airlines to operate between two countries without restrictions on frequency or capacity. Southwest also wants permission to transport "persons, property, and mail" to any country that enters an aviation agreement with the US in the future. In the filing, the airline said that being granted such permission "will promote competition and increase the traveling public's ability to access Southwest's high-quality, low-fare service." A Southwest spokesperson told Reuters that the filing was "not necessarily indicative of anything forthcoming," and that it was taking advantage of streamlined regulatory procedures. The airline did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Business Insider. Southwest only operates Boeing 737 jets, which have a maximum range of around 4,370 miles, meaning the airline could not immediately operate true long-haul flights, but could fly some shorter routes across the Atlantic. The filing is the latest sign of Southwest shaking things up as falling profits force the airline to rethink its business model. It pioneered the no-frills theme taken up by other budget airlines around the world, which rely on add-on fees and keeping planes in the sky as much as possible. However, budget airlines have struggled post-pandemic, contending with changing consumer habits, increased fuel and labor costs, and domestic overcapacity that has made it harder to fill planes. Last July, Southwest announced that it would end its signature unassigned-seating policy and start charging for premium options with more legroom. In March, it said it would start charging passengers to check bags. That came six months after saying it wouldn't end this other signature policy, with "two bags fly free" listed as a registered trademark. Tuesday's filing isn't the first sign of Southwest's plans to expand operations. In February, it began interline operations with Icelandair, which lets passengers travel with both airlines on one ticket. That means you could start on a Southwest plane, then go on to many cities in Europe via Reykjavík.
Reuters
13-05-2025
- Business
- Reuters
Southwest Airlines seeks permission to expand international network
May 13 (Reuters) - Southwest Airlines (LUV.N), opens new tab on Tuesday filed with the U.S. Department of Transportation for authority to fly to any country with which the U.S. has an Open Skies aviation agreement. The carrier currently flies within the U.S. and to some nearby destinations in Mexico, the Caribbean and Central America. The United States has open skies agreements with countries across Europe, Latin America and parts of Asia and Europe. The filing was "not necessarily indicative of anything forthcoming", Southwest said in a statement. The carrier said it was taking advantage of the DOT's streamlined regulatory procedures for international authority. Bloomberg News first reported on the filing earlier in the day.
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Southwest Airlines seeks permission to expand international network
(Reuters) -Southwest Airlines on Tuesday filed with the U.S. Department of Transportation for authority to fly to any country with which the U.S. has an Open Skies aviation agreement. The carrier currently flies within the U.S. and to some nearby destinations in Mexico, the Caribbean and Central America. The United States has open skies agreements with countries across Europe, Latin America and parts of Asia and Europe. The filing was "not necessarily indicative of anything forthcoming", Southwest said in a statement. The carrier said it was taking advantage of the DOT's streamlined regulatory procedures for international authority. Bloomberg News first reported on the filing earlier in the day. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
