Coffee

Southwest announced that it is giving its "onboard coffee a lift with hazelnut creamer". What a way to diversify.

Funny Advertisement posted by Southwest in the 1992

FUN FACTS ABOUT SOUTHWEST

I read these and just thought they were interesting.

Fun Facts:

• Southwest received 90,043 resumes and hired 831 new Employees in 2009.
• In 2009 Southwest served 63.2 million cans of soda, juices, and water; 14.3 million alcoholic beverages; 14 million bags of pretzels; 90 million bags of peanuts; 17.7 million Select-A-Snacks; and 33.5 million other snacks.
• Southwest consumed approximately 1.4 billion gallons of jet fuel in 2009.
• In 2009, Southwest moved 182 million pounds of cargo.
• The shortest daily Southwest flight is between Ft. Myers (RSW) and Orlando (MCO) (133 miles). The longest daily Southwest flight is between Providence (PVD) and Las Vegas (LAS) (2,363 miles).
• Southwest has 1,164 married couples. In other words, 2,328 Southwest Employees have spouses who also work for the Company.

http://www.southwest.com/about_swa/press/factsheet.html#Leadership

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.


http://www.southwest.com/about_swa/?int=GFOOTER-ABOUT-ABOUT

Rapping Flight Attendant

I just thought that this video was funny!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rhMOnr0GxU8

How Southwest is weathering the economic conditions?

Southwest is doing well considering the economic conditions. Their second quarter earnings were $112 million, an increase from $91 million in last year’s second quarter. They have had many programs in place to promote flying. The cost of fuel is one of their biggest concerns. But they keep their fuel cost down though hedging. Approximately 55% of the third quarter fuel is hedged.
Quote from Gary Kelly regarding second quarter earnings:

“We have made excellent progress toward generating revenue levels sufficient to reach our 15 percent pretax return on invested capital target. Although business demand has not fully recovered, it has strengthened, and consumer travel demand is robust. We experienced record traffic levels during the quarter, despite flat year-over-year capacity, demonstrating a continuing and significant market share shift to Southwest, in part due to our unique and successful 'Bags Fly Free' policy. Further, we led the industry with our year-over-year domestic passenger revenue and corresponding unit revenue performance. It is, without question, our Employees who make it possible for Southwest to remain such a great Company, and I am very grateful for their hard work and steadfast delivery of outstanding Service to our Customers”(http://www.southwest.com/investor_relations/if_news_releases.html)

Increase in hospital and medical transporation

"Southwest Airlines announced today plans to increase the number of hospitals and medical transportation organizations that will receive grants in the airline's 2011 Medical Transportation Grant Program. Southwest has nearly doubled the grant program's 2011 budget with hopes of assisting more than 5,500 patients and family members with their medical related travel needs. Southwest Airlines understands that many patients with chronic or terminal illnesses have to travel for their appointments or treatments. In hope of easing some of this burden, Southwest Airlines created a formal program to assist patients during this difficult time. Through the Southwest Airlines Medical Transportation Grant Program (MTGP), the airline provides complimentary, roundtrip tickets to hospitals and medical transportation nonprofit organizations. The tickets are distributed by the organizations to deserving patients and their caregivers who must travel for medical care." (http://www.southwest.com/investor_relations/fs_news_releases.html)

For the rest of the article click the link.

Stock Price

Stocks are up 0.07 from yesterday closing at $11.51 per share.