Southwest Airlines 1996 Annual Report Download - page 14

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14
We not only save you money, we save you time. In today’s
fast-paced environment, time may be the ultimate currency.
Southwest understands how extremely valuable time is to our Customers in today’s fast-paced
world. That is why we are particularly proud of our Employees’ outstanding ontime performance
record. For the fifth straight year, Southwest had the very best ontime performance of all major
airlines. When it comes to saving our Customers both time and money, we clearly offer the best
value in the airline industry. Airlines face many obstacles in their quest to depart and arrive on
time. Poor scheduling, weather, air traffic congestion, mechanical problems, and attitude all can
contribute to flight delays. At Southwest, we work hard to minimize these issues. First, we
design an operating schedule that is practical, realistic, and efficient. Second, we avoid congested
hub airports, where possible. Instead, we like convenient, efficient airports like Dallas Love
Field, Houston Hobby, Chicago Midway, Oakland, Burbank, Ft. Lauderdale, Providence, and
Baltimore. Selection of convenient airports also minimizes our Customers’ travel time to and
from the airport. Third, we utilize a highly sophisticated, state-of-the-art flight dispatch system,
which allows us to safely minimize weather and operational delays, whenever possible. Fourth,
having the youngest fleet and a highly regarded, highly respected maintenance team and program
minimizes both delays and cancellations due to mechanical problems. Southwest leads the
industry in mechanical reliability, meaning fewer canceled flights for our Customers. Finally, our
People, from dispatch to flight crews to ground operations, simply have the desire to get you
there safely and on time and will put forth the extra effort to get it done. They are the best, and
that’s why our ontime performance is best. Period.
JUNE 27, 1977 WAS JUST ANOTHER DAY FOR WALL STREET. BUT NOT FOR SOUTHWEST AIRLINES.
THAT MORNING OUR STOCK PREMIERED ON THE NYSE WITH THE SYMBOL-“LUV.” WHILE THE SYMBOL
WAS A LITTLE UNCONVENTIONAL FOR WALL STREET, IT WAS A NATURAL FOR US. BORN AT LOVE
FIELD IN DALLAS, OUR TICKETS WERE ISSUED ON “LUV MACHINES,” AND OUR BEVERAGES WERE
CALLED “LUV POTIONS.” BUT MOST IMPORTANTLY WE HAD AN INNATE, HEARTFELT LOVE FOR OUR
CUSTOMERS. SO, IT WAS NO SURPRISE WE WERE THE COMPANY THAT PUT “LUV” ON THE MARKET.
WHICH, AS WE KNOW, CAUSED MORE THAN ONE STOCKBROKER TO LOOK UP AT THE TICKER AND
THINK, “YEAH, I COULD USE SOME OF THAT.”