Southwest Airlines Porter's 5 Forces

Despite operating in one of the most unattractive industries, Southwest Airlines has being very successful in its operations. Its operational success can be attributed to the use of a single aircraft type by the airlines targeted at minimizing the maintenance as well as the operational costs (Jackson et al., 2011). The airline also targets the smaller as well as the less congested airports to minimize delays as well as schedule disruptions. The aircrafts are easily turned around easily minimizing the time spend on air and this is accomplished by minimizing meal services as well as the seating assignments. However, although these are attributed to e the primary reasons behind the aircraft’s success, initiatives by other aircrafts to copy the
latter have being ineffective and this is because the secret weapon used by the airline remains a secret to other aircraft. These initiatives comprise good relationships among the employees and managers characterized by effective communications skills and strategies (Cavalcante et al., 2011). The environment established in the enterprise ensures shared knowledge, mutual understanding of goals, as well as mutual respect among workers and superiors as well. Another reason behind the airlines success is its financial stability as the airline is in a position to make a profit despite the challenges it faces.
Current economic condition of the airline industry; How would this affect Southwest Airlines?
The current economic factors favor growth of the airline industry.
These factors are favored by the increased growth in the developed markets such as US that have in the long-run resulted in loosening of the monetary policy. This idea has led to the rise in international trade, business confidence, as well as industrial production and all these factors directly and significantly favor the airline industry. Since the Southwest Airline is on the top position in the airline industry, these economic factors are bound to increase the profit margins of the enterprise and increase its overall productivity as well (Poppendieck,
2011).
Current operational issues or challenges within Southwest Airlines. How can Southwest Airlines take on the issues or challenges?
The primary issue that faces the Southwest is its emergent inability to get its customers to their various destinations on time. This issue came into existence in August and by December, the airline ranked in the last position with the highest level of inability to get its customers to their various destinations on schedule. The airline can handle the issue by starting off their flights on scheduled time to minimize delays before flights that will translate themselves as late flights (Eisenberger & Stinglhamber, 2011). The flight can also minimize its activities on air that in the long-run results to easier movement on air with quick swifts and turning.
Trends for the future within the operational segment; How can Southwest Airlines remain competitive in the future?
The primary way of remaining competitive in the industry is to employ the measures listed above to handle its primary challenge that will guarantee the airline remains competitive in the future.
The Southwest Airlines can also remain competitive by fully utilizing its stronghold, financial stability. This concept can be achieved by expanding its territories margins to venture into new market segments, upgrading its facilities, as well as buying new airlines. Although these initiatives might be costly, but they guarantee the company’s competitiveness in the future as it introduces the company to bigger markets. These measures ensure the company retains their current established market shares and helps the airline in gaining new market shares as well. These strategies will also eliminate copycats and maintain the company’s uniqueness in the type of products and services it offers to its customers. Failure to adapt these recommendations will leave Southwest Airlines at the same sport and this will be an advantage for the competitors that will steal the airline’s strongholds and use it against themselves making the competitors more beneficial.
Conclusion
It is very critical that the Southwest Airlines work on its current strategies and initiatives to make them better. Their mission entails giving their customers the best and highly-qualified customer service and this mission entails constantly scanning the environment to identify any opportunities that present themselves and are
beneficial to the customers (Jackson et al., 2011). Since the airline already has a reputation for being the best, the next initiative involves taking measures to make their strategies better and more effective in the competitive market dimension.

References
Eisenberger, R., & Stinglhamber, F. (2011). Perceived organizational support: Fostering enthusiastic and productive employees. American Psychological Association.
Poppendieck, M. (2011). Principles of lean thinking. IT Management Select, 18.
Jackson, S., Schuler, R., & Werner, S. (2011). Managing human resources. Cengage Learning.
Cavalcante, S., Kesting, P., & Ulhøi, J. (2011). Business model dynamics and innovation:(re) establishing the missing linkages. Management Decision, 49(8), 1327-1342.