Southwest Airlines

Southwest airlines brings up alot of memories for me, well not really but for other people it has. This is where they began. Southwest airlines was founded in 1971 as Air Southwest. They Started with three Boeing 737-200’s Their headquarters were in Dallas in Love field. Here is there background history.
Southwest started out with 3 routes Dallas Love field, Houston Hobby, and San Antonio. They had one aircraft the Boeing 737-200. When they expanded they became the launch customer for the 737-300 and 500. They also got two leased 727-200’s in which they later sold. They now serve every stated with over 65 destinations with over 500 737’s operating over 3000 flights a day making them the busiest airline in the world. They were also the launch customer of the 737-700 in which they are also the largest operator. They are also the largest operator of the 737-300.

Southwest has had only 6 accidents 35 history. The first one happened on
March 5th  2000. A Boeing 737 overran the runway at Burbank Glendale Pasadena airport. Both pilots were fired. August 11th, 2000 a passenger broke through the cockpit door other passengers restrained him but later died of resulting injuries. August 19th 2004 flight 411 was taking off when an air traffic control error occurred a Boeing 747 was about to land on the same runway as the Southwest plane but aborted landing just in time. December 19 2005, Southwest flight 1248 was landing at Chicago midway when it overshot the runway and skidded into the street hitting a car and killing a 6 year old boy. May 12 2009, Southwest flight 519 was  landing when it blew a tire it took 8 minutes to extinguish the fire. July 13 2009 Southwest flight 2294 was cruising when a hole formed near the tale which caused depressurization and it had to make an emergency landing.

Southwest has quit flying a few aircraft that have special livery for example Shamu or NBA or Texas. But if you see one make sure to remember what it looked like and look it up on the web to see a closer picture then you can say hey it have seen that plane.

As the Atlanta market opens up to them in their purchase of  Southwest is thinking of adding 737-800’s for high frequency routes. It will also be increasing routes: it is thinking of adding a route to Mexico via San Antonio or some other southern city.  Southwest is currently adding WiFi to its planes in the near future. Maybe I’ll file a story from one someday!

UPDATE

Southwest Airlines has recently announced it will be merging with Air Tran on Friday.  Southwest also said they will be selling off Air Tran’s fleet of Boeing 717’s and will keep their Boeing 737-700’s. For more information on the merger stay tuned for further announcements.

Quinn