Latest news with #SouthwestAirlines
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Dallas City Council Approves 12-Year Lease Extension For Southwest Airlines At Love Field
The Dallas City Council has approved a lease extension for Southwest Airlines to operate 18 gates at Dallas Love Field through September 2040, extending the carrier's presence at its historic home base by 12 years. The move addresses anticipated passenger growth and secures long-term operational stability for the airport that served over 16 million travelers last year. Southwest's current lease was set to expire in September 2028, but city aviation officials pushed for an early renewal to lock in predictable costs per passenger. The proactive approach comes as Love Field prepares for projected annual enplanements to reach 10 million by late 2026. Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson praised the partnership during the council's deliberations. 'I am proud to see Dallas extend its longstanding partnership with Southwest Airlines,' Johnson said, as reported by city officials. 'For over 50 years, Southwest has been the cornerstone of Dallas Love Field Airport and a key economic partner to our city.' Southwest CEO Bob Jordan emphasized the airline's deep roots at Love Field, dating back to its inaugural flight in 1971. 'We applaud the leadership of Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson and City Manager Kimberly Bizor Tolbert in helping secure Southwest's long-term future at Dallas Love Field,' Jordan said. The airline executive highlighted Southwest's mission to 'connect People to what matters most in their lives with friendly, reliable, and low-cost air travel.' The extended agreement includes provisions for capital investments aimed at enhancing passenger experience and airport infrastructure. These improvements will help Love Field maintain its status as the busiest medium-hub airport in the United States. Located just seven miles from downtown Dallas, Love Field contributes more than $5.6 billion in annual economic activity to the region. The airport supports approximately 28,000 local jobs and generates $1.7 billion in labor income each year. The facility has earned recognition from industry groups, including ACI-World's Airport Service Quality awards and ACI-NA's MarComCX honors. Still, managing projected growth while maintaining service quality remains a key challenge for airport administrators. The lease extension provides Southwest with operational certainty as the carrier continues expanding its network from its original hub. For Dallas, it ensures continued access to affordable air travel options for residents and businesses throughout the metropolitan area.
Yahoo
12 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Caitlin Clark's quads, Trump-Musk bromance and 'Duck Dynasty': Your week in review
COVID-19 vaccines will no longer be part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's recommended immunization schedule for healthy children and pregnant women, Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced. National Institutes of Health Director Jay Bhattacharya, joining Kennedy for the announcement posted in a video on X, called the change 'common sense and good science." Traditionally, immunization guidance is voted on by a CDC advisory committee; then the CDC director makes the final call. The CDC panel has not voted on Kennedy's change. COVID-19 protocols: Changes are happening. Here's what to know Could there be some cooling in the Trump-Musk bromance? The president's crusade to pass his "big, beautiful" tax and spending bill through Congress took some flak from his former right-hand man, who said he was "disappointed" with the cost of the bill and complained that it "undermines the work the DOGE team is doing." (Musk has also criticized Trump's tariffs.) Asked about Musk's remarks on the spending bill, Trump cited politics: "I'm not happy about certain aspects of it, but I'm thrilled by other aspects of it. … It's got a way to go." At least one break is official, however: Musk's turbulent 130-day run as a "special government employee" is now over. It's the end of the line for free checked bags on Southwest. For the first time, the airline is now charging for the service: $35 for a first checked bag and $45 for a second bag (overweight and oversized baggage costs more). Tickets booked or changed on or before May 28 don't apply, and for some customers, new fare categories and membership perks will still earn them free checked bags. The new fees are the latest major change for Dallas-based Southwest, including a farewell to its open seating policy of more than 50 years. In a news release, the airline acknowledged that "preferences have evolved." Phil Robertson, the bushy-bearded and plainspoken patriarch of the colorful Louisiana family featured on A&E Network's 'Duck Dynasty," has died. He was 79 and had battled Alzheimer's disease and other health problems, his family said. His family-run hunting products business, Duck Commander, was the epicenter of "Duck Dynasty," which ran from 2012 to 2017 on the back of the clan's three core tenets: "faith, family and ducks.' The duck call will not go silent, however; a spinoff, "Duck Dynasty: The Revival," premieres June 1. Call it the Caitlin Clark effect − in reverse. The Indiana Fever's star guard is out for at least two weeks after she strained her left quad in a loss to the New York Liberty, which meant she would be sidelined for at least the next four games. The WNBA is feeling the pain, too: Ticket prices have plunged since news of Clark's injury. It's especially disappointing for the Fever's road game June 7 against the Chicago Sky − the latest Clark vs. Angel Reese clash − which had been moved to the 23,000-plus-seat United Center to meet demand for tickets. − Compiled by Robert Abitbol, USA TODAY copy chief This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Caitlin Clark's quads, Trump-Musk and 'Duck Dynasty': Week in review
Yahoo
18 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Southwest Airlines Cuts Flights in Atlanta
Southwest Airlines has made a number of unpopular moves over the past several months and weeks, highlighted by the airline's decision to end its longstanding "bags fly free" policy. Now, the airline has made yet another unpopular decision. As detailed by a piece from Emma Hurt of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution this week, Southwest Airlines has cut more than a third of its schedule at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport in Atlanta, the busiest airport in the world. While Delta Air Lines dominates the airport, accounting for about 80 percent of the flight capacity at Hartsfield-Jackson, Southwest has long been the second-largest carrier in Atlanta. But with these recent cuts, it seems like only a matter of time before it no longer holds that status. The move has been unpopular amongst customers, with the AJC highlighting one longtime Southwest customer who has now abandoned his loyalties to Southwest. 'Southwest never gave me a reason to shop around,' Atlanta-based filmmaker Adelin Gasana told the AJC. 'It was just my go-to … but this is the first time I've been shopping around for domestic flights.' Southwest flight attendants aren't necessarily happy, either. Alison Head, an Atlanta-based flight attendant for Southwest who represents the base on the Transport Workers Union's executive board, expressed concern about the cuts. 'Morale is very uneasy as we've watched other carriers come into Atlanta,' she wrote. She went on to criticize the airline for presumably valuing profits and stock market perofmance over the people and service. 'We feel like we're up against Wall Street,' Head said. 'Southwest has always been known for the 'LUV,' (its stock market ticker symbol) and we feel like they're not willing to protect the 'LUV' like they once were.' Clearly, this is yet another unpopular move from the airline. Southwest Airlines Cuts Flights in Atlanta first appeared on Men's Journal on May 30, 2025 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
Daily Mail
a day ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
How Southwest's new baggage fee could backfire
The end of Southwest's much-loved free checked bags policy could have two unintended consequences. The budget airline, which announced it would be charging customers for their checked luggage earlier this year, could now face delayed departures due to longer check-in and gate lines. Gate-checking lines will also grow as Southwest planes have limited overhead locker room for carry-on bags, and will be unlikely to meet new demands. Southwest has the lowest cancellation rate among its US rivals so far this year and its on time rate is over 80 percent, according to aviation analytics firm Cirium. If the airline is unable to mitigate the knock-on effects of its new policy then fliers could see a significant reduction in timely departures just as the summer travel season kicks off. Checking passengers' bags as they board the plane is a time-consuming activity and may cause flight delays as the airline and its passengers get used to the new system. On the airline's smallest planes, there tend to be five or six carry-ons that need to be checked, Justin Jones, executive vice president of operations at Southwest, told the Wall Street Journal. But as bag fees go into effect, he predicts this could surge to 25. The airline has begun deploying new technology to speed up check-in and gate waiting times. This includes an AI 'Lobby Awareness Tool' that predicts airport wait times based on flight schedules and passenger-arrival patterns. This will help the airline know when to deploy extra employees to help deal with a bottleneck and minimize delays. Another tool is the Baggage Estimation Based on Passengers, or Bebop, which will help to predict how many carry-ons will have to be checked at the gate. 'It was a curve ball that we were thrown,' Jones previously told the Airlines Confidential podcast. 'We always carry more bags than anyone else out there,' Jones said. Indeed, customers have famously taken advantage of Southwest's generous policy to transport kitchen sinks and toilets across the country. 'We're going to need to do several things,' but 'we want to make sure the customer experience is still very high,' Jones told the podcast. 'So we're going to be extremely hesitant to go out and do heavy policing on bag size like some other carriers do.' However, the policy change 'will result in more gate checked bags and fees.' 'We're dependent on everything kind of flowing,' Jones said of Southwest's business model which relies on keeping aircraft in the skies rather than wasting time on the ground. Long-term Jones said the answer will be in the introduction of new planes to Southwest's fleet with more cabin bag capacity. Customers have criticized he new rules. 'The only reason people put up with no assigned seating was because they could check free bags. This is no better than a bus, now,' one wrote on Reddit. The fees are part of Southwest's efforts to boost its bottom line.
Business Insider
a day ago
- Business
- Business Insider
Southwest CEO says changes like charging for seat bookings and checked bags will make it over $4 billion next year
Southwest Airlines expects to make over $4 billion from the array of changes it's introducing. That includes scrapping its signature policies of unassigned seating and the trademarked "Two bags fly free." At the Bernstein Strategic Decisions Conference on Thursday, CEO Bob Jordan said the airline expects an incremental EBIT contribution of $4.3 billion in 2026. "It's hugely impactful to the business and to our margins," he added. On Wednesday, Southwest started charging $35 for a first checked bag and $45 for a second one, although all loyalty members and credit card holders can get one for free. "Bag fees, credit exploration, [and] changes to the loyalty program" are expected to contribute $800 million, Jordan said. While changing the seating system is still "months away," it is expected to generate another $1.5 billion in 2026. Introducing assigned seating is designed to encourage passengers to pay to choose their seat and for premium options like extra legroom. "85% of the customers who won't choose us want assigned seating," Jordan said, adding it is also the biggest reason they don't fly with Southwest. The other $2 billion is split between cost-cutting measures and "base business changes," such as improving the airline's revenue management system. Budget airlines like Southwest have seen their profits tumble since the pandemic. Increased fuel and labor costs, plus domestic overcapacity, have made it harder to fill planes, while fliers are more interested in paying for premium options. As Jordan said on Thursday: "Let's answer the question of what do customers want? And they want segmentation of the cabin. They want a variety of product offerings. They want access to premium." Southwest has also faced pressure from the activist firm Elliott Investment Management. The new changes seem to be encouraging Wall Street. Southwest's share price has risen over 20% in the past month. Plus, Deutsche Bank analysts upgraded the stock from a Hold rating to a Buy on Thursday. "Southwest is in the middle of the largest transformation in company history and we are confident that its new board and management team will execute its transformation plan with considerable success," they wrote in a report.
