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StumbleSouthwest Airlines says it’s ready to grow with Las Vegas
Sam Morris / Las Vegas Sun
Southwest Airlines President and CEO Gary Kelly talks to employees during an appreciation lunch at McCarran International Airport Monday, February 1, 2010.
Tuesday, Feb. 2, 2010 | 8:11 p.m.
Sun coverage
Southwest Airlines’ top executive says the airline is in a position to grow in Las Vegas as the economy gets better but stopped short of promising new flights to McCarran International Airport.
Southwest CEO Gary Kelly, in Las Vegas Monday to congratulate local employees for winning the company’s 2009 Spirit Week competition, said he was well aware that his arrival coincided with competitor US Airways’ closure of its pilot and flight attendant bases at McCarran and said his airline — McCarran’s busiest — doesn’t take Las Vegas for granted.
“I’m very aware (of US Airways’ downsizing) and we’ve been monitoring those developments very carefully,” Kelly said in an interview prior to his appearance before local employees. “Of course, our competition has been gradually reducing flights over a period of years, and we’ve long since been the largest carrier here in Las Vegas.”
Southwest moved quickly to add flights in St. Louis when American Airlines dropped service at Lambert-St. Louis International Airport. Weeks ago, Southwest announced it would add six flights to Las Vegas in its late summer schedule.
“We desire to grow. We think we have the financial health and the right business model to continue growing,” Kelly said. “Hopefully as the economy improves, as traffic returns, we’ll be in a real good position to help Las Vegas grow. We’ve got airplanes on order and optioned into the future, and certainly that’s our desire.”
Kelly also referenced US Airways’ downsizing in his brief address to employees.
After thanking McCarran executives Randall Walker and Rosemary Vassiliadis for their support, Kelly said, “Don’t worry. If our competitors drop their flights, we’ll be here for you.”
US Airways has been downsizing its Las Vegas operation, especially in the last two years, paring what once was a 140-daily-flight operation about a decade ago to 36 daily flights by the end of February.
The airline is focusing its strategy on a model that emphasizes its three hub airports at Phoenix, Philadelphia and Charlotte, N.C., and its East Coast shuttle operation and fewer point-to-point flights between other airports.
Despite a protest by Las Vegas-based US Airways pilots, the airline progressed with plans to close the pilot and flight attendant bases Sunday.
Las Vegas is Southwest’s largest station, with an average 217 daily nonstop flights to 56 cities and connecting service to 11 more — all but one of the destinations the airline serves.
The airline uses 19 gates at McCarran and 2,644 employees are based here, including more than 1,000 pilots and flight attendants and 720 people in ground operations.
While Southwest isn’t offering a large bundle of new flights to McCarran, it will give Las Vegas a big economic boost in May.
Kelly announced to local employees that the company’s annual Spirit Day celebration would be in Las Vegas on May 12. The company has contracted with the Golden Nugget to host the event.
Last year’s Spirit Day celebration brought about 9,000 employees, most of them from out of town, to downtown Las Vegas for a party celebrating the company culture.
Corporate culture is important to Southwest, and 2009’s first-ever Spirit Week competition was a part of that.
Sunny Abercrombie, senior director of culture services for Southwest in Dallas, said Las Vegas employees were creative in their efforts to deliver customer service, wearing retro Southwest uniforms one day and celebrating ‘80s Day, Hearts Day and International Day during the week of inter-station competition in September.
“We get a lot of great support from our management, and I think that affects how we approach our jobs,” Abercrombie said.
Southwest adopted a new theme — “Own it,” as in owning customer service, on-time performance and corporate culture — and employees wore red “Own it” T-shirts to celebrate their victory.
In addition to winning bragging rights within the company, the Las Vegas station received a specially painted aircraft push-back tug as a trophy.
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Their fairs should match their PR. I received my weekly email of their "low fares" and was shocked at how much they have "skyrocketed" since I last flew them in December.
What's up with that Southwest? Oh, well, it doesn't matter. I'll just choose another carrier. . . . . .
We need the high speed train built now! Stop the Southwest Airlines chokehold on routes in and out of Las Vegas.
At least they dont charge for bags like everyone else!! Thats why I chose to fly with them.
I pay $99.00 From Tampa Fla. To Las Vegas 2 times a years.I book online 6 to 5 months advance with 1 or 2 stops 5 to 7 hours flight time for only $99.00,I can not bet that.Southwest does a good job with there passagers,its a no thrills airline(meaning no hot meals,but snack) it gets you from point A to point B with low cost.I would now beable to spend more money in Las Vegas( 1 arm bandits)than the airlines.Keep up the good work Southwest,keep fares low and I will keep flying.
Keep up the great culture Southwest! I had the pleasure of seeing Mr. Kelly actually sit about three rows in front of me on a flight from Phoenix to Vegas, and he said that he routinely does this to see how the customers are taking in the attendant's performance and efforts. It's great to see a CEO that invovled, and he's still relatively new to the position. Good for him! Keep it up Gary!
Come on Southwest and compete with Allegiant who charges for the air their passengers breathe and when a problem arises their customers are not allowed to talk to a supervisor. They are stuck with the decision of a line employee,period. And Allegiant charges forty dollars for the first bag,to get a seat,to board,water,and if a customer declines to pay for a seat they can not get a boarding pass on line as well as Allegiant does not allow it's customers to use the kiosks at the airport. Customers are treated like inmates rather than customers. If a customer writes a letter to Maurice Gallager the CEO of Allegiant to inquire about being mistreated some rude 'upper management ' employee will call the customer in two months to tell the customer we put it writing and you do not have any recourse. Allegiant the jewel of the airline industry.
If you miss your flight with Allegiant Airlines you will not get a credit and will lose all of your money. If you buy 'trip flex' thinking you are protecting your purchase in the event you have to cancel or change flights you need to read the fine print. If you have a problem within twenty four hours of your departure you are out of luck and your money is gone. 'Trip Flex' is a joke. Buyer beware.
Do yourself a favor and inquire as to how many complaints have been filed with the FTC about Allegiant Airline abuses .
NOTE TO homer: Well, Allegiant's "holier-than-thou" ways, just reflect their upper management and those of their biggest advocate, Sen. John Ensign. Remember Allegiant and their association with the John Ensign/Hampton scandal?????? They are all got from the same fabric. And, homer, you're right. They are a pretend airline that is only promoted by the Republicans in this state that reflect the attitude of: "I got mine, screw you!"
High speed is long overdue in Nevada. Get busy people. You can be heard if you speak loud enough by boycotting transportation that does not serve you, and voting for candidates that promote high speed rail travel.
Southwest Airlines: You do a great job with one exception: You really ought to stop your bait and switch advertising, and remain one step above your competition.
Atleast one knows what to do after recession groove (groom at the reception).
most people who use air travel for pleasure have enough on the ball to book ahead of time. yes, the air fares have gone up and most airlines charge for baggage. but if you use half your brain, you can save big time by using the internet and planning ahead. southwest is my first choice whenever i fly and is always the cheapest.
US Air may be the worst run company in America for decades, nice job buying America West and then throwing away most of their routes.
I'm with you, mamabear. I get those emails every week and when I was living in Vegas, I'd always check the fares from LAS to MDW and there were NEVER any specials!! Maybe ifyou flew out on a Monday evening and came back Wednesday evening but that's hard to do when you had to work during the week!! And that $99 fare wolf speaks of - I could NEVER allow myself to spend 7 hrs traveling to anywhere, let alone Vegas!! London, maybe or the Caribbean (that sTop over in San Juan is always fun) but to Vegas??? But to each his own.
Comrads and HomeWreckerHaters:
Southwest Air beats US Air each and every time. They are more professional, on time mostly and way more courteous. US Air was nasty to us many times and others too on cross country flights and in terminals in and out of Las Vegas. Our bags were snatched by one woman agent saying the overhead bins were filled ...she basically attacked us ... the bins were mostly half filled we found out after getting aboard. We filed complaints and they offered us all sorts of stuff but we refused and will never fly the ba********s again no matter what. I'm sorry to see some of the folks lose jobs, but glad a professional carrier is taking over - no corporation can succeed with dismal employee preformances .. Glad. Comrads. Merci.
Great! Just what Vegas needs to help rebound after the recession... I agree with most here - USAir needs to go... never really had a good experience with them (lost bags, always late, once a faulty aircraft) And who ever NEEDS a meal on a NS 6 hour flight (my flight from Philly, hometown) is crazy... you can have your meal if you choose but dont get upset when you go with United and pay more for your flight, pay for bags #1 & #2, AND dont get the simple customer service like miss your flight and get put right on the next available with no real paper work needed... Long live SW in LV
I'll celebrate the day that US Air aka Air Worst goes out of business.
I've flown for business (and personal trips) for years with many different carriers, and I believe Southwest is by far the best carrier in terms of customer service and overall value.
Between having some of the consistently lowest fares, having no switch fees, and imposing no baggage fees (which is becoming a very significant portion of your overall cost), their value is unmatched.
Their customer service is incredible. If you need to switch a date or destination on your flight (or if you miss your flight altogether), they'll work with you without charging exorbitant fees. Their service reps are always cheerful and professional, and their planes are comfortable and clean.
I'm glad to live in Vegas where I can fly just about anywhere on Southwest. I, for one, have to give them some LUV.
MAMABEAR, what other airlines fly to Vegas with some sense of normal schedule that is cheaper?? Haven't seen one yet...
I am impressed that the CEO fly's on his own planes to see what we think..when's the last time American or United CEO's (or anyone else for that matter) took a trip on their own planes?
Attention Pahrump-Mike ......... For your information America West bought Us Airways, not the other way around, and retained the name. America West management runs the company now and it was their bean counter bean brained alcoholic management team that cut all the routes. Basically the only thing left that is US Airways is the name. Get your facts straight. And about Southwest, all they are is Greyhound with wings. Most of my friends detest Southwest and the non-service they provide. And those commercials are classless.