Southwest Airlines doesn’t run any redeye flights but their CEO teased that they were coming back in the fall. There’s now a timeline for when we’ll see redeye flights from Southwest.
I broke the news over the 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.
You’d think they might rush redeyes to grow flying since Boeing delays mean they’re aircraft constrained. They don’t have more planes, but they could add flights. However, Southwest Airlines is two years away from offering redeye flights
The airline still has a few technical and labor details to work out before the flights can begin, but it hopes to get them in the air in about two years, [Chief Commercial Officer Ryan] Green said.
Green added that he sees an opportunity for about 50 red-eye flights a day at Southwest.
I’m not sure many people are clamoring for overnight flights. However it would improve their 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. Hawaii to Dallas pushes the maximum range of the 737 MAX 8 – could we see Dallas – Hawaii come once the MAX 7 is certified?
I’m sure their pilots and FAs will just “luv” that.
@ Gary — Seat assignments coming in 2040. Incompetence.
This will allow eastbound travellers returning from Hawaii to connect to Midwest and East Coast destinations.
2 years from now! What’s the big rush?
American, United and Delta all have “red eye” flights, that reposition aircraft now. This move by SWA is a business decision to move some of their larger planes to their busier hubs so they can get more $$$ utilization from them. If passengers get to ride along, so be it.
Imagine the pickle their IT department will be in if they ever decide to operate flights that cross the International Date Line.
Red eyes make a ton of sense for many travelers from the West Coast to the East Coast and from Hawaii to the Mainland. It’s simply managerial incompetence not to offer this profitable service to consumers.
Redeye flights from West coast to east coast would be a welcome addition to traveling. I would be on board.
@Steve Actually, I knew some FA’s who loved redeye flights. It allowed them to fix dinner for their family, go to work from 9pm to 6am, and fix breakfast for their family before they left for work/school. Perfect schedule for some!
Red-eye flights are already bad enough as they are, but to do it with Southwest? People must be desperate to think a cramped seat for 5 hours overnight helps. The overnight connections are better if there’s enough time to leave the airport and catch the next flight.
If they pitch the (yet to be certified) Max7 the same as the -700s, which seems likely, Hawaii-Dallas will be quite a miserable flight. Hawaii-west coast, on the other hand, should start sooner.
@John Smith – you say:
“Red-eye flights are already bad enough as they are, but to do it with Southwest? People must be desperate to think a cramped seat for 5 hours overnight helps.”
Yet, Southwest’s average seat pitch for coach passengers is greater than all of the legacy carriers…
JetBlue – 32.3 inches
Southwest Airlines – 32 inches
Alaska Airlines/Delta Air Lines (Tie) – 31.8 inches
American Airlines – 31 inches
United Airlines – 30.2 inches
Hawaiian Airlines – 30.1 inches
Frontier Airlines/Spirit Airlines (Tie) – 28
JetBlue will not be happy if Southwest adds OAK and LAX to FLL redeyes.
Red eye flights are actually preferable to some people. Good for Southwest. Bad for the other carriers.