jet320

Wednesday September 16, 2009
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Southwest Airlines plans to open international routes to Europe and South America, although so far there is "no timetable" for the move, Director-Network Strategic Planning Lee Lipton told ATWOnline at the World Route Development Forum in Beijing.
"Europe and South America are our first choice. . .but currently we are still evaluating our options," Lipton said. Southwest Chairman, President and CEO Gary Kelly said last month that the LCC is "seriously considering" operating international flights to Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean as soon as 2011 (ATWOnline, Aug. 21).
Lipton told this website he is confident that the "low-cost, long-haul" business model can work for the carrier "just as AirAsia X and Jetstar have achieved success," adding, "it could even become a trend for LCCs in the coming days."
Interestingly, Spring Airlines, the most successful Chinese LCC, also plans to launch international service. It intends to operate to neighboring Asian countries in time for Shanghai's Expo 2010 starting in May.
However, Assn. of Asia Pacific Airlines DG Andrew Herdman expressed reservations about the low-cost long-haul model, saying, "It's too early to tell if it will be a trend for the future."
He contrasted the normal low-cost business model--narrowbody aircraft, single-class cabins and online ticket sales--with a typical long-haul operation. "Once the LCCs enter the international market, they have to comply with international rules, which means they have to operate a two-class cabin on widebody aircraft and sell their tickets not only through their website but also by GDS," he told ATWOnline. "All these would make low-cost carriers look like full-service airlines, as they have a lot of convergence with carriers that choose the standard model." Herdman concluded: "I wouldn't say it can't work, but it's quite challenging."

ATW Daily News



by Katie Cantle

captjns

I plan on winning one of the mega powerballs too. However, although my time table has not been set either.

contrail67

With what kind of equipment....737?? Coach??

Mach93

I guess they shouldn't have thrown away the ATA certificate with world wide authority. Its gonna be pretty expensive to get that back again now.

sailingfun

No its not. You due as every airline does and borrow a ops manual you like. White out the other guys name and adopt the procedures. You fly some proving flights ect.. and your on your way. Very little cost in the big picture. Almost no difference at all in cost from holding the certificate. You will have to do the same proving flights and the exact same training regardless of the ops certificate.

acl65pilot

Exactly. Generally it is a manual, four crossings for proving flights, and evac. They like to see the first few pilots and FA's go through school too. If it was really expensive you would see less star tups.

Justdoinmyjob

I would think that getting an ETOPS program up and running would take a little while longer. Of course I could be wrong on that. If so, disregard.

Widow's Son

SWA just got Canadian authority last week.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Southwest Airlines Co. carrying on business as Southwest Airlines (applicant) has applied to the Canadian Transportation Agency (Agency) for a licence to operate the service set out in the title. The application was complete on May 20, 2009.

The applicant has been designated pursuant to the Air Transport Agreement between the Government of Canada and the Government of the United States of America signed on March 12, 2007 (Agreement), to operate scheduled international services.

The applicant filed an affidavit attesting that within the twelve months preceding the filing of the application it did not contravene section 59 of the Canada Transportation Act (CTA) in that it has not sold, caused to be sold or publicly offered for sale in Canada transportation in respect of the applied for air service without holding the required licence. The applicant has also undertaken in respect of the air service applied for that it will not contravene section 59 of the CTA prior to the issuance of the applied for licence. The Agency is not aware of any evidence that the applicant contravened section 59 of the CTA within the preceding twelve months.

The Agency has reviewed the application and is satisfied that the applicant meets the requirements of subsection 69(1) of the CTA. The Agency is also satisfied that the pertinent terms and conditions of the Agreement have been complied with. Accordingly, the Agency will issue to the applicant a licence to operate a scheduled international service.

Pursuant to subsection 71(1) of the CTA, the Agency deems the terms and conditions set out below to be consistent with the Agreement and will therefore include them in the licence to be issued pursuant to this Decision.

The licence to be issued pursuant to this Decision shall be subject, in addition to the conditions prescribed by the Air Transportation Regulations, SOR/88-58, as amended (ATR), to the requirements to hold a Canadian aviation document issued by the Minister of Transport, and to have prescribed liability insurance coverage as set out in section 7 of the ATR, and to the following terms and conditions to which the licence is made subject pursuant to subsection 71(1) of the CTA:

1. The Licensee is authorized to operate the route(s) set out in the Agreement.

2. The Licensee is prohibited from carrying local traffic between points in Canada.

3. The operation of the scheduled international service authorized herein shall be conducted subject to the provisions of the Agreement and to any arrangements related thereto as may be agreed to between Canada and the United States of America.

4. Unless terminated at an earlier date in accordance with the CTA or the Agreement, this licence shall terminate at the termination or expiration of the Agreement, or upon the effective date of any amendment to the Agreement which shall have the effect of eliminating the rights herein authorized.

Rightseat Ballast

international rules require widebody aircraft and dual class? I think EOS was operating single class 757's, and nearly every major airline in the US flies 757's across the Atlantic.

What is unclear is whether or not the 1-2-3 rule will still apply in US dollars, or in local currency.

ftrplt18e

Lambourne.....you are a sad, sad little man.
Didn't your mother tell you....if you have nothing nice to post, post nothing at all!