SOUTHWEST AIRLINES CASE STUDY BY Aurelio Montelongo Jr. June 22‚ 2012 Southwest Airlines is in an environment whose conditions for most in this type of industry have been anything but profitable. So why is it that Southwest Airlines‚ who has been profitable in this volatile market been able to make money? Though Southwest did have a losing quarter it was not due to lack of fliers or its service to its customers‚ but an investment in its fuel hedging cost. As fuel dropped in price‚ Southwest
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Southwest Airlines in 2010: Culture‚ Values‚ and Operating Practices Summary Southwest Airlines was founded by Herb Kelleher in 1967 to provide low-cost service between Dallas‚ Houston‚ and San Antonio. Although the U.S. airline industry had lost money in 15 of the 30 years between 1980 and 2009‚ Southwest has reported profit every year since 1973. Southwest Airlines is considered to be the most successful budget airline in the U.S. Since 2000‚ the number of passengers flying Southwest has
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Running head: SOUTHWEST AIRLINES Southwest Airlines William F. White Grand Canyon University Introduction Southwest Airlines took their first flight in June 18‚ 1971. The company got underway more then four years earlier but had a number of tough lawsuits against them before they were able to get their first plane up in the air. Southwest Airlines began serving the Texas cities of Dallas‚ Houston and San Antonio. And then in 1979‚ Southwest Airlines finally made their first voyage outside
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would you characterize the business model of Southwest Airlines? How does this differ from the business model used at many other airlines‚ such as United and American Airlines? The business model that Southwest airline uses can be characterize as "keep it simple" that are they don’t fly everywhere they employ a point to point route system‚ no seating class distinctions‚ no choices on type of aircraft and simplest pricing structure. Southwest Airlines flies point to point which a lot differ from
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Kelleher at Southwest Airlines “You shouldn’t get too heady about anything‚ because the greatest thing you do is not big in the universe. It’s not saying it doesn’t matter. It matters all the more. You’re fighting against nothingness. But you don’t give up. Therein lies the heroism.” -Kelleher (p.156) Although many have a great respect for Southwest Airlines and their disciplined business decisions. I have a greater respect for their “family like” environment and how they encourage their
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Introduction Case studies Learning excellence: Southwest Airlines’ approach Ulla K. Bunz and Jeanne D. Maes The authors Ulla K. Bunz and Jeanne D. Maes are based at the University of South Alabama‚ Mobile‚ AL‚ USA. Abstract In an era in which adapting to change means survival‚ it is important to study what successful organizations have done. While the airline industry in the USA has not made thriving financial headlines‚ one small company has been able to satisfy its customers completely
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Assessing Corporate Culture: Southwest Airlines Q Organizational Philosophy‚ Mission‚ Vision‚ Values Southwest Airlines clearly outlines their values in their corporate mission statement: The mission of Southwest Airlines is dedication to the highest quality of customer service delivered with a sense of warmth‚ friendliness‚ individual pride‚ and company spirit (www.southwest.com). This mission both describes the company ’s approach to its workforce‚ and the customer at large. Rather than
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Identify Current Strategy Southwest Airlines Co. is a major domestic air carrier that is "the world ’s only short-haul‚ high-frequency‚ low-fare‚ point-to-point carrier" according to the President and CEO Herb Kelleher. Southwest has always been able to quickly seize any strategic opportunities whenever they arise. Southwest is the only company to ever hold the Triple Crown for annual performance. Some of the key factors that contribute to Southwest ’s success are its conservative growth pattern
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Southwest Airlines: In a Different World”‚ Analyzing Southwest Airlines’ organizations harmony is very challenging. Using the Mckinsey 7S Framework will make this process easier. The Mckinsey 7S Framework is made up of hard elements and soft elements. The hard elements consist of strategy‚ structure‚ and systems. These are elements in the organization that can not be changed easily. The soft elements consist of shared values‚ skills‚ style‚ and staff. These are elements that can be changed
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Situation Following the Deregulation in 1978‚ a competitive price war ensued among the airline industry as a direct result of the new freedom for airlines to set their own fares as well as route entry and exits. This gave rise to the operating structure of the airlines as it exists today‚ consisting of the point-to-point system and the hub and spoke system. With this came the change of focus for major airlines to non-stop‚ cross-country routes in densely populated cities‚ which‚ in a regulated environment
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