Southwest Airlines doesn’t operate overnight, but that’s about to change. Their CEO teased that this was coming back in the fall.
I broke the news last summer that Southwest would start selling overnight connections, using their existing schedule to sell itineraries that involve an overnight layover at six airports (Baltimore; Denver; Las Vegas; Phoenix; Chicago Midway; and Oakland). This was seen as a precursor for eventual overnight flying.
I’ve expected Southwest to rush red eyes into the schedule to grow flying, since they aren’t getting new planes as quickly as they’d expected. They can fly their existing planes more. Last month the carrier’s Chief Commercial Officer, though, said it would take a couple of years to start flying overnight, growing to “about 50 red-eye flights a day.”
It’s been several years since the airline had to reset their systems each day, which made it difficult to be flying 24 hours a day. In more recent times, labor deals have been the constraint – they just didn’t include overnight flying. All that’s left now is approval of a new contract with cabin crew.
I’m not sure many people are clamoring for overnight flights. However it would improve aircraft utilization, and more capacity also supports lower fares in the market. Some routes would become possible if currently viewed as more marginal. We might see redeye Hawaii to the West Coast, allowing for morning connections eastward.
Enilria reports that Southwest is considering announcing red eyes as soon as two weeks from now.
- Once Southwest Airlines flight attendants approve the new contract their union negotiated, the airline will be free to schedule red eye flights. The agreement includes premium pay for cabin crew who work red eyes.
- If the agreement gets approved by the time Southwest extends its schedule on April 25th, which should include flights through March 2025 (an unusually long period for the airline), then they’ll introduce red eyes with this update for travel as soon as this fall.
The schedule update wouldn’t just be an extension but addition of flights.
[I]f Southwest can get approval of the Flight Attendant Tentative Agreement by the 25th of this month when they roll forward their schedule all the way to March 2025, they will move forward with red-eyes this Fall to combat the MAX related aircraft shortage. There would be 50 red-eye roundtrips within 2 years, but some would launch in a restatement of their Fall schedule. The red-eye launch might also help provide enough aircraft to keep the Dallas DFW launch on schedule for January 2025, although that remains up the air based upon their Boeing fleet plan.
It’s an exciting, tumultuous time at Southwest Airlines. They’re planning to launch red eye flights for the first time in their history. They’re planning new seats, including what appears to be extra legroom seating. They are preparing to partner and codeshare with other airlines. And they may be about to buy another airline. And they’re expected to announce service at DFW airport, held back only by Boeing delays in delivering aircraft.
With 20-25% of their flights delayed daily it’s more likely they will be early morning flights instead of red eye flights. Trying to reset after a major event will be interesting.
Having troubles getting your computers to work across midnight? Just wait till they learn about this thing called the International Date Line. It will blow their minds.
“The agreement includes premium pay for cabin crew who work red eyes.”
Have they checked to see if use of the word “premium” is restricted to it’s use by another airline?
that would be a fast 2 years which is what many interpreted WN execs as saying.
WN is not going to fly across the international date line anytime soon.
Adding redeye flights will not only help east-west connections esp. to the east coast and from Hawaii but it will reap dividends in serving Latin America markets where overnight flying is preferred by many.
The number of aircraft that would fly redeyes is minimal so they SHOULD be able to isolate heavily delayed flights and build in some extra turn time on early morning arrivals to offset delays esp. since redeyes will all involve large stations.
WN’s on-time is currently running better than all of the ULCCs and, at least for the winter, also better than AS.
Adding redeyes will help generate revenue while they deal w/ Boeing delivery delays
Please let this include a return to EWR with OAK or SJC to EWR flying.
Been flying SWA red eyes since first of yr when they appeared on schedules (left coast > eastbound). Usually comes with a 3 hr connection.
Btdt since 1979, commuting to Asia for employment.. why burn precious daylight sitting in ‘the tube?’
I Always welcome more Red Eyes!
Calling all 737 A&Ps… Let’s get SWA performing better.
Buy more tickets too!
Fill em up
Been using SWA red-eyes for 4 months, since they appeared on schedule. (Left coast to eastern destinations, involves a 3-4 hr layover at connection to take 5-6am departures.). SWA needs longer initial eastbound flights to make red-eye match daylight route duration. Westbound is much easier to get the initial leg to 4+ hrs. Spent a 37 yr career commuting to Asia on red-eyes. Bring more!
Spent a