Southwest is making it pretty clear that it isn’t all that enamored with the Boeing 717 after all.  While it serves a purpose, Southwest thinks its needs can be met by the 737 in a 137 seat configuration or more.   The 717, in its current configuration, seats 117.

Southwest is a smart airline and they know best what they need.  It’s interesting to me that Airtran has used them effectively but that Southwest doesn’t see any advantages.  Yes, it’s true that the more seats, the more money a flight makes.  It’s also true that the 717 isn’t the most efficient aircraft going around in light of the Embraer 195 and Bombardier CSeries.

But is Southwest really not in need of that size aircraft?   I would argue that ignoring those “third tier” cities any longer may be unwise.  Southwest has the United States covered now and growth will come in the form of either more international flying or finding smaller cities to serve with the right aircraft. 

Why can’t Southwest use a smaller aircraft?  Adding the E-195 or CSeries ought to give them the right sized aircraft for those markets at an operational efficiency they’re accustomed to.  I understand not wanting to “hub” their airline but they already do that in the form of many focus cities.  Besides, those third tier cities are generally “tied” to one or two major cities at most.   For instance, Wichita, KS has ties to Kansas City which is a good gateway city to fly to other parts of the country.   Similarly, why not serve Des Moines, IA or Omaha, Nebraska with flights to Chicago or Denver?

There is no reason why Southwest can’t provide the same kind of route structure connecting these cities much in the same “point to point” structure that it currently uses. 

I suspect that Southwest is going to work with Boeing to unload these 717s in favor of a 737 MAX order but I also think that Southwest won’t be ruling out a different aircraft in the “regional” class from another manufacturer.

Filed under: Airline Fleets by ajax