Southwest Airlines was always our favorite airline, the reason was not very complicated, you flew direct, without having to spend hours making connections in other airports. Just get on a plane and arrive at your destination. In addition, they had free checked baggage (wonderful).
But now Southwest Airlines is changing… A lot. No more free baggage… And no more direct flights. We do not want to raise alarms, but everything points to the company leaving behind its direct flights (it has already cut six at Lambert International Airport in St. Louis) to concentrate its routes in key airports and operate from there. What all the others do, basically.
Goodbye to the model that made it different
For years, Southwest stood out from the rest with its model of direct flights between cities, without having to go through gigantic hubs. And it is because time is gold, less travel time, less luggage lost… much more comfort.
But that way of operating requires many resources and coordination that is not exactly simple, and now the company has decided to centralize operations in airports like Chicago Midway, Denver, Nashville or St. Louis itself. From there, more connections will be created. And that means many routes that were direct before… now they will not be.
Why this change
They have not officially announced it yet, but you do not have to be very smart to know that Southwest has been moving in this direction for some time. The idea is to save on operations, the previous model is very comfortable for passengers, but not for the company, it is expensive and very difficult for them to sustain. So now they will be able to group flights, improve their planes and optimize staff. Worse for us? Yes, but the company is theirs!
It is not that they want to stop being the Southwest we know, in fact, they insist that they will continue betting on point-to-point routes whenever possible. But now they will do it within a more hybrid scheme, mixing their style with the traditional one of the big airlines.
And for the passenger, what changes?
Well, quite a lot changes. Those who flew with Southwest to avoid connections will find fewer direct options… Routes that were simple before will now require at least one connection, more travel time, more chances of delays, more complications…
That said, the airline assures that with the new hubs there will be more connection options, especially within the United States. But the flexibility it used to offer (and that many of us valued so much) will be harder to find.
Is Southwest still Southwest?
The essence is still there, at least for now… They still have a different model from the big airlines, but now it is clear that the company is adjusting its formula. It is no longer as different as before, and that will be noticeable.
The change is not necessarily bad. It could allow them to save, be more efficient and compete better in a market that gives no respite. But it can also make them lose part of what made them special and that many users prefer to spend on other airlines that offer direct flights even if they are a little more expensive… remember that time is gold!
Fewer direct flights, more connections, and a structure that looks more and more like their rivals, time will tell if this change works out for Southwest, or if along the way, a bit of that identity that made it unique for so many years gets diluted.
Key information
- Southwest Airlines canceled 6 direct routes from St. Louis airport.
- The airline prioritized nonstop flights.
- They could cut more direct flights in the future.
- The change seeks to improve connectivity and adapt to a new operational stage.