Southwest Airlines Case Analysis

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1. Southwest Airlines is an Equal Opportunity Employer, therefore, has diversity in their employees from all over the world. They have employees from different cultures and experiences. Southwest Airlines invites military personell, active and retired veterans to apply. They also offer positions to qualified disabled individuals and disabled veterans. According to Forbes, “The icing on the cake is an elaborate recognition program for all employees who are recognized by customers. They are lauded in newsletter features, on the intranet, by the CEO in videos that are played at staff meetings, and dinners honoring them. Voluntary turnover is only two percent, and many of Southwest’s original employees are still there. The company receives 43,000 commendations a year, from both inside and outside the company.”
By end of 1990, They employed 8,486 FT employees and 134 PT employees. By February 2014, they had 44,430 FT employees and 1,321 PT employees.
45% - Ground, Customer Service and Fleet employees
43% - Flight employees
7% - Maintenance employees
5% - Management, Accounting, Marketing and Clerical employees

2. SWA is known for their “low fares” advertisement on tv, ads on the internet and through direct marketing, such as email. SWA does not have interline fares or contract with other airlines or use of commuter feeder relationships. Ads that are marketed, encourage individuals to go online to their website to get a lower fare. Their frequent flyer program is based on “number of trips taken” versus how many miles they have flown and other airlines have copied this program. SWA promotes casual but professional work environment to give customers a ‘home’ feel.

3. By keeping costs down:
1) Not assigning seats. They are able to tur...

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Home - 2011 Southwest Airlines One Report. (n.d.). Retrieved April 19, 2014, from http://www.southwestonereport.com/2011/#!/people/employees/index

How Social Media is Elevating Airline Crisis Communication « Social Fresh. (n.d.). Retrieved May 11, 2014, from http://socialfresh.com/how-social-media-is-elevating-airline-crisis-communication/

Southwest Airlines in Hot Water Over Seaworld Blackfish Controversy. (n.d.). Retrieved May 5, 10, from http://www.triplepundit.com/2014/01/southwest-airlines-hot-water-blackfish-controversy/

Southwest to offer captioning on wireless IFE | Runway GirlRunway Girl. (n.d.). Retrieved May 5, 2014, from http://www.runwaygirlnetwork.com/2013/11/21/southwest-to-offer-captioning-on-wireless-ife/

Southwest Airlines Marketing Strategies. (2008). Retrieved May 5, 2014, from http://www.yousigma.com

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Southwest Airlines Case Analysis

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