Following are the Strengths, Weakness, Opportunities and Threats of the Southwest Airline.
Strengths
• Southwest Airlines is known to be one of the major low cost airline leaders and an initiator in being a low cost carrier.
• According to the number of passengers, Southwest has been termed as the largest airline in the world.
• It has quite a diversified management, which makes it more efficient in handling crisis.
• As the initiator for being a low cost carrier, it managed to score a lot of revenue.
• It is known to be the third largest fleet for carrying passengers in the aircraft industry all over the world.
• By posting a profit for the 36th consecutive year in January 2009, it is known to be one of the most profitable airlines in the industry.
• The Short trips that were without any frills were one of the major reasons for Southwest’s popularity.
• It has a simple fare structure, and it is one of the basic reasons which made this company successful.
• It has a positive organizational culture and encourages a positive and warm employee culture.
• It gives the option to the customer to change reservations without paying any additional costs.[sky]
Weaknesses
• It has not offered any segmented seating i-e. There is no business class or 1st class seating arrangement.
• Most of the employees are members of the employee union.
• Carries an insignificant amount of cargo/freight.