BryanS Posted April 4, 2008 Share Posted April 4, 2008 http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23942137/WASHINGTON - The whistleblowers who exposed maintenance and inspection problems at Southwest Airlines told Congress their jobs were threatened and their reports of noncompliance were ignored for years. Federal Aviation Administration inspector Douglas Peters choked up Thursday at a House hearing and needed a few sips of water to tell lawmakers about how a former manager came into his office, commented on pictures of Peters' family being most important, and then said his job could be jeopardized by his actions. Rep. James Oberstar, D-Minn., said FAA managers' actions displayed "malfeasance bordering on corruption," adding that if presented to a grand jury, the evidence would result in an indictment. This just keeps getting worse... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
musicman Posted July 8, 2008 Share Posted July 8, 2008 Southwest Airlines said today it plans to offer international service Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ssullivan Posted July 14, 2008 Share Posted July 14, 2008 This makes total sense. WestJet really is the Canadian version of Southwest. They're what Southwest would be if Southwest had assigned seats and in-flight entertainment systems on its planes. WestJet does serve a few US cities, but has very little presence in this country. Having Southwest as a partner will greatly expand WestJet's reach into most major US business markets. And Southwest gets access to all of the major Canadian cities, as well as a lot of second- and third-tier Canadian cities. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Slick Vik Posted May 8, 2013 Share Posted May 8, 2013 http://www.chron.com/business/article/Southwest-to-offer-nonstop-to-D-C-out-of-Hobby-4496675.php?cmpid=hpfsln Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
asubrt Posted May 8, 2013 Share Posted May 8, 2013 Southwest has really showed a commitment to Houston recently, unlike United. I was always a huge Continental supporter, and never flew Southwest until last year, but since the merger United has added essentially 0 destinations out of IAH (Lagos was announced by Continental, and I believe Jackson Hole/Rapid City were as well, which were the last two domestic destinations added on CO/UA that I can recall). On the other hand, in the past 3 years or so Southwest has added, or will add: Atlanta, Newark, Charlotte, Memphis, Pensacola, Washington-Reagan, NY-LaGuardia, Boston, Pittsburgh, Orange County, Indianapolis, Kansas City, Seattle, Raleigh/Durham, Panama City (FL), Branson, Charleston (SC), and Greenville/Spartanburg, not to mention 8-10 international destinations coming in 2015. Granted, United already serves almost all of these destinations from IAH, but their growth has completely stagnated in terms of new destinations, while other airlines continue to add service (Turkish Airlines, Air China, Spirit, Frontier, etc...). IAH is seeing additional capacity in terms of widebodies and of course the 787, but it seems as if they are still punishing us for the Hobby international terminal fiasco, because every other UA hub has gotten multiple new destinations (even Cleveland!) since the merger except for IAH. Not to mention the cutting of countless destinations such as Paris, Asheville, Greensboro, Beaumont, Waco, Victoria, Del Rio, Cedar Rapids, Toluca, and others. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jt16 Posted May 9, 2013 Share Posted May 9, 2013 No one was more brand loyal to Continental than me, but I refuse to fly United unless absolutely necessary. Like Asurbt mentioned, SWA is investing in Houston while united is contracting in Houston. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Andrew Broadfoot Posted May 9, 2013 Share Posted May 9, 2013 Like Southwest, I really hope Houston ups its investment in Hobby infrastructure such as the parking lot, pax arrival/departure lanes, freeway connectors directly to the airport and even buying up some of the adjacent land and extending 12L. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AVENSAB727 Posted May 9, 2013 Share Posted May 9, 2013 (edited) UA is not punishing IAH. They just cut unprofitable flying out of IAH. The new routes out of the other hubs are already served by IAH. I would not say there are countless cuts. Edited May 9, 2013 by AVENSAB727 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Naviguessor Posted May 9, 2013 Share Posted May 9, 2013 I agree with Avensab727. However UA did frame their cuts/layoffs (which were coming anyway) as a result of the City's decesion to develop Hobby as a Internation gateway for SWA. UA just came off appearing to be juvenile in their response. "Your going to let SWA fly to Cancun...We aren't going to fly 787's to Auckland! So there." Does this make sense to anybody?? They lost jt16, me and countless others in this rediculous, thinly vieled response. Contiental didn't own Houston, SWA doesn't own Houston...United shouldn't think that they own it, either. So far...CO:UA...Disaster. I really hope they turn it around. I really do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trae Posted May 9, 2013 Share Posted May 9, 2013 I have a sibling that works for United so I do enjoy my free or pay taxes only flights, but they definitely have crappy customer service. You can tell if you get a United crew or old Continental crew. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
asubrt Posted May 10, 2013 Share Posted May 10, 2013 UA is not punishing IAH. They just cut unprofitable flying out of IAH. The new routes out of the other hubs are already served by IAH. I would not say there are countless cuts. Speaking of countless, I've seen your insanely pro-United posts on Airliners practically every single day, and while they did cut some unprofitable routes out of IAH, the fact remains that they have removed 10+ destinations and added exactly 0 (while every other hub has had multiple additions to their route network). They flat out said during the city council proceedings for Hobby international service that "we will cut service and jobs at IAH if this happens." Remember this? United Continental Holdings Inc. (UAL) plans to cut 1,300 jobs and some service at Houston’s main airport after the city backed Southwest Airlines Co. (LUV)’s bid to start international flights from a secondary facility.The 10 percent reduction in seating capacity at George Bush Intercontinental Airport includes dropping a planned route to Auckland, United told employees in a memo yesterday. Most of a $700 million terminal project is also “in significant doubt,” Chicago-based United said.http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-05-30/southwest-wins-houston-council-support-for-flights-abroad.html Yes IAH was the largest hub and yes some of those destinations were covered from Houston already, but moving you're telling me they couldn't have added a Providence, or a Madison, or Santiago, Munich, Punta Cana, or one of any number of cities that are not served from IAH? Moving the Paris flight to SFO doesn't exactly fit the "already served from IAH" criteria either. Look, I don't have access to their financial information, so I can't tell them what routes they should and should not fly, but the fact of the matter is that they way they handled the merger and the Southwest situation was a public relations disaster, and while adding a token route or two out of IAH wouldn't mean much to the general public, it would at least be a sign of good faith to the city after moving the headquarters away and slashing service left and right. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AVENSAB727 Posted May 10, 2013 Share Posted May 10, 2013 Well, it was a PR disaster. But UA was planning the cuts, all because they said they were going to cut because of hobby going international doesn't mean that was the true intention. They use the HOU debacle as a scapegoat. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AVENSAB727 Posted May 10, 2013 Share Posted May 10, 2013 I am not being pro-United, I just see through theIR argument about HOU going international. Why would they cut service 3 years ahead of any competition? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AVENSAB727 Posted May 10, 2013 Share Posted May 10, 2013 They made a big deal about terminal B south opening. Terminal B north will start later this year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
asubrt Posted May 10, 2013 Share Posted May 10, 2013 Well, it was a PR disaster. But UA was planning the cuts, all because they said they were going to cut because of hobby going international doesn't mean that was the true intention. They use the HOU debacle as a scapegoat. You have no way of knowing if that's true or not, just as you have no way of knowing which routes are profitable and which are not unless you work at United or know someone that does. And it doesn't even matter: the fact is they said they were going to cut because of Hobby, and they did cut. Regardless of your claims that you aren't a United fanboy, every single post you make is some combination of "United is right-sizing IAH", "They aren't punishing Houston", " I think they are going to add routes soon!", "I think United is happy with where they are in Houston", or some other vague statement with no backing. You can't argue with the fact that the post-merger activity at IAH has been different than at every other hub in the network. Maybe they have been simply cutting non-profitable routes, maybe not, but you're telling me there isn't a single city in the world that could have a profitable route from IAH that isn't already served? I think Air China and Turkish Airlines, among others, would disagree. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
asubrt Posted May 10, 2013 Share Posted May 10, 2013 They made a big deal about terminal B south opening. Terminal B north will start later this year. I hope they do start with the rest of Terminal B, but one reply to one of your tweets by a person with no source does not equal confirmation by any means. Until there's an official announcement we've got to assume that it's on hold indefinitely (or cancelled), as has been suggested by many sources. There's no bigger IAH supporter than me, and it sounds like you and I want the same thing (a bigger, better IAH), but you've got to chill with the fanatical optimism and be realistic about these things. Side note: I'm flying United tomorrow for the first time since Continental ceased to exist (RIP), and hopefully departing from the new terminal B. I'll try to get there early and snap some pictures for the forum. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AVENSAB727 Posted May 10, 2013 Share Posted May 10, 2013 Well, The HAS social agent told me that. He/she knows info. Why would that person say construction is starting later this year if they had no source. But I think that you are leaving the fact that those sources could be wrong. I am not fanatically optimistic, just optimistic. And all of this happened a year ago! Things could have changed. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
urban909 Posted May 10, 2013 Share Posted May 10, 2013 (edited) But UA was planning the cuts. Source? (not a tweet) Edited May 10, 2013 by urban909 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nativehoustonion Posted May 11, 2013 Share Posted May 11, 2013 I fly United and they have 5 non-stops. Also 6 to IAD. Woopie! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
editor Posted May 22, 2013 Author Share Posted May 22, 2013 Here's the release. Southwest Airlines Launching Nonstop to Reagan National Airport Southwest Airlines is planning to launch new nonstop flight service between Houston’s William P. Hobby Airport (HOU) and Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) on August 4, 2013. The announcement means that air passengers in Houston will soon have the ability to access Reagan National Airport from both HOU and George Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH). “Southwest Airlines is definitely taking advantage of the strong economic momentum that currently exists in Houston,” said Houston Airports’ Chief Commercial Officer Ian Wadsworth. “This is the latest in a string of service announcements from Southwest Airlines, expanding their coverage area for Houston passengers.” Southwest Airlines recently launched nonstop service to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and Charlotte, North Carolina, in addition to announcing planned service to New York’s LaGuardia Airport, beginning in June 2013. As for the Washington, D.C. route, it was made possible after the U.S. Department of Transportation awarded slot exemptions to Southwest Airlines by accepting its application for gate space at Reagan National Airport. The new route completes a triad of nonstop service options between Houston and the metropolitan airports in Boston, New York and Washington, D.C. and further underscores the airlines’ commitment to business travelers who value these nonstop flights. “This new option on Southwest Airlines brings our legendary customer service and low fares to tens of thousands of customers who will travel the route each year between Reagan National and Houston Hobby,” said Ron Ricks, Southwest Airlines Executive Vice President & Chief Legal & Regulatory Officer. “We owe great thanks to the thousands of Southwest employees and community partners who joined a chorus of consumers asking that we be able to offer this needed service.” Southwest Airlines currently operates 153 daily departures from Hobby Airport. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nativehoustonion Posted August 7, 2014 Share Posted August 7, 2014 The last six months they are last in on time performance with the network airlines. The government fined them for not following maintenance rules. Hopefully they will improve once AirTran is gone in October. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kylejack Posted August 8, 2014 Share Posted August 8, 2014 They locked in some great fuel rates a while back which allowed them to have lower rates than the other airlines. I think those have expired and they're now trying to figure out how to continue competing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nativehoustonion Posted November 4, 2014 Share Posted November 4, 2014 They also cheap taken care of their planes. Customer safety is the main issue which they do not care. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JLWM8609 Posted November 4, 2014 Share Posted November 4, 2014 No link? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Luminare Posted November 4, 2014 Share Posted November 4, 2014 No link? yeah I was wondering the same thing. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mollusk Posted November 4, 2014 Share Posted November 4, 2014 They also cheap taken care of their planes. Customer safety is the main issue which they do not care. Huh? They've been flying for over 40 years with one, count 'em, one fatality, and that was someone on the ground in the Midway runway overrun accident nearly a decade ago, that occurred in conditions on the edge of calling for diversion. I will grant that Southwest does not offer first class seating to Melbourne, Australia (well, actually, none at all..), nor do they fly 787s or A380s. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nativehoustonion Posted November 5, 2014 Share Posted November 5, 2014 I don't want to fly on plane with the roof falling off. 40 years what a diss. It is all over the news. Hope your wig stays on! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Naviguessor Posted November 5, 2014 Share Posted November 5, 2014 Hold on to YOUR hair Native 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JLWM8609 Posted November 5, 2014 Share Posted November 5, 2014 I don't want to fly on plane with the roof falling off. 40 years what a diss. It is all over the news. Hope your wig stays on! Engage in hyperbole much? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nativehoustonion Posted November 5, 2014 Share Posted November 5, 2014 How funny! United it's not getting sued. Southwest is and well did MEL come in to this? You low life that fly once a year. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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