Southwest Airlines is going into darkness.
Ryan Green, the airline’s chief commercial officer, told attendees at an air travel conference last week that the company was planning to launch “red-eye” flights for the first time in history within the next two weeks, Washington Post reported.
Green said he estimates the airline could launch up to 50 night flights per day, noting that the airline is still working out the technical aspects of scheduling and related labor decisions before night travel can begin.
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“We have to focus maniacally on efficiency,” Green said, explaining that the airline wants to expand flight offerings without “adding costs to the structure.”
Southwest, which is based in Dallas, has major hubs in Las Vegas, Los Angeles and Phoenix, making the red-eye flight option attractive to passengers flying to and from these western U.S. cities.
Red-eye flights are especially popular for cross-country travel, offering passengers the option of rushing to the ground upon landing due to the time zone change.
Southwest reported a net loss of $219 million in revenue during the fourth quarter of 2023, but the airline still managed to beat a company record of $6.8 billion in operating revenue over the same period.
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“I am very proud of our many accomplishments in 2023, but we have not yet reached our financial goals,” CEO Bob Jordan said in an earnings release at the time. “We expect our current initiatives to continue to deliver results beyond 2024 and are actively working on new initiatives. We will be relentless in advancing our plans to achieve financial results, while enhancing our great hospitality and offering a reliable operation and more efficient.”
The decision could prove challenging in the months ahead: Boeing’s problems have led Southwest to acquire fewer Boeing 737 Max planes.
As of Monday afternoon, Southwest was down just under 6% year-over-year.