In 2000, Southwest bought a company 94 new 737 Next-Generation aircraft on top of the 74 jets already on order

In 2001, Southwest ended up being searching powerful. The flight continuous growing and grew highly while also get yourself ready for the long term with an executive series plan. But next arrived 9/11 and downturn in aviation.

In 2002, growth had been slightly less than they earlier ended up being. However, the carrier still strike a fleet matter of 375 planes and shared over 60 million travelers. By 2003, the airline included the 60th location, Philadelphia, and travelled over 65 million individuals with a fleet of 388 jets. In 2004, Southwest crossed 400 planes in its collection.

In 2005, Southwest exceeded the 3,000-daily flight tag and entered more than 200 daily flights out of Las Vegasa€“ the flight’s biggest airport at that time. In addition, in 2005, Southwest began a large venture to repeal the Wright Amendment and provide they even more liberty to fly inside and outside of Dallas-Love, the company’s earliest house. However, best Missouri ended up being provided an exception.

Denver (DEN) solution exposed in 2006 and remains a big base for airline. And, in 2006, Southwest got a win together with the Wright Amendment change operate. Even though it wasn’t a whole repeal, the flight could now promote passes and provide connecting and one-stop drive aircraft across the whole program from Dallas-Love Airporta€“ one of many company’s most crucial basics. Just in 2014 was actually the Wright Amendment scrapped.

By the end of 2007, the flight got entered 88 million passengers flown in annually onboard 520 of the Boeing 737 airplane.

At this point, Southwest ended up being typically a home-based carrier. But its guests did need take a trip globally. Therefore, the flight got the essential permissions to make usage of a codeshare with WestJet, a Canadian flight. Continuing this vein of development to significant , the flight extra aircraft to brand-new York-LaGuardia.

The merger with AirTran

In , Southwest launched it would buying all exceptional typical stalk of AirTran, hence getting the service. Next period, Southwest announced intends to offering Wi-fi onboard their collection.

Southwest carried on to maneuver on featuring its merger with AirTran last year just like the office of Justice (DOJ) assessed the merger. The airline attained contracts using its pilots while the Federal Aviation government (FAA) on Southwest’s changeover want to mix AirTran’s businesses into unique. The purchase closed in 2011a€“ equivalent 12 months Southwest celebrated the 40th anniversary.

In 2011, Southwest gotten authorization through the section of Transportation (DOT) to conduct international flights. AirTran would travel to Cabo San Lucas, Cancun, and Mexico urban area in Mexico. The main gateways for routes to Mexico will be off Orange County, California, and San Antonio.

Modernizing the airline

In sugar daddies 2011, Southwest turned into the introduction consumer for the Boeing 737 MAX. The flight is amongst the greatest subscribers and workers associated with airplane. By the end of 2011, the provider got 698 planes in fleet and had flown more than 100 million earnings guests.

On , Southwest and AirTran was given FAA affirmation for an individual running certificate, that has been an essential part for the integration of these two airlines. Best a week later, Southwest got their basic Boeing 737-800 and revealed it off on March twenty-first.

Due to the fact airline analyzed its plan forward, the provider made a decision to forget about AirTran’s Boeing 717s. All 88 for the 717s happened to be subleased to Delta environment contours, leaving Southwest with an all-737 collection.

Southwest’s intercontinental services are from AirTran and, ahead of the airline obtained AirTran, Southwest focused on the domestic , Southwest launched its earliest international services regarding Baltimore, going to Aruba. Since then, the flight features expanded its solutions with centers on core The usa and Caribbean.