On May 16, 2025, Arlington, Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport at a Southwest Airlines Boeing 737 Taxi.
Kevin Carter | Getty images
Arlington, Texas – Southwest Airlines Is considering airport loungeCEO Bob Jordan said on Wednesday, “more premium seating and even long international flights, to win high-spending customers.
Jordan said in an interview at an airport industry conference, “Whatever customers are needed in 2025, 2030, we will not be away from any table. We will do it in the south -western way, but we will not say that we will not do this.” “We know that we send customers to other airlines because there are some things you want that you cannot meet us.
The southwest is in the middle of a change. It has been included Destruction Like some of its policies OpenA similar cabin and all customers were allowed to check two bags for free, which were things that were Set it apart From rivals in his 54 -year flight.
But it has faced pressure from the contestants, and a worker investor pushed the carrier to increase revenue last year. And air fare has dropped in America.
Southwest and other carriers Drew 2025 forecasts Earlier this year, citing economic uncertainty. Jordan said on Wednesday that the airline is looking at cheap fare.
“Summer usually never occurs on sale, and heat is still heavy on sale,” he said.
Despite making major changes in its business model, Jordan said that the carrier has not seen the customers in other airlines as it had introduced no-frills basic economy tickets and bag fees later in the end of the previous month, already near the policies.
But it is important to make changes at the high end, also, he said.
Contestants Delta air lines, United Airlines And American Airlines And added Luxury tourist destination And Ramer, more expensive seats, and they have also invested heavily airport loungeFor example, on the first Wednesday, American unveiled the plan to almost double its lounge location at the center of its Miami International Airport.
Jordan said that “it is a way to put any specifics very soon on possible changes”, but he called the South -West stronghold Nashville International Airport – where the airline has more than 50% market share, according to the airport data – as a place where customers are hungry for luxury.
“Nashville loves us, and we know that we have Nashville customers who want a lounge. They want first class. They want to go to Europe and they are going to Europe,” he said.
But achieving things means that customers have to book on another airline who could more likely to add the rival’s co-branded credit card to their wallet, they also said.
“I want to send less and less customers to another airline,” he said.
Jordan said it would also be too early to say whether the southwest would change to buy the aircraft for a long time, which will need to go to Europe; Trust it Boing 737 for more than half a century. He said that Southwest International Partnership – Icelandaire and China Airlines, so far – but a South -West aircraft landing in Europe is on the table at some point, he said.
“There is no commitment, but you can definitely see a day when we are serving long-term destinations like Europe as southwest airlines,” he said. “Obviously you will need a separate aircraft to serve that mission and we are open to see what we will do to serve that mission.”
In the near period, Southwest is still waiting for the delivery of Boeing 737 Max 7S, the smallest aircraft in the Max family, which still does not win the federal aviation administration certification. Jordan said that the manufacturer has recently progressed with more consistent delivery, but is not expected to blow Max 7 in the southwest in 2026.
