Southwest Airlines’ Seven Secrets for Success

Joe Brancatelli:

By some estimates, the country’s major carriers have consumed perhaps $100 billion in capital during the past decade, but Southwest Airlines continues to be profitable. It’s been in the black for 33 consecutive years and, last week, for the 127th consecutive quarter, it paid a modest dividend. Its balance sheet, with about $3 billion in cash on hand and $600 million in available credit, is the envy of an otherwise fuel-price-ravaged industry.

Southwest isn’t just my favorite airline (they have great service out of Philly, and I fly them whenever possible), but is one of my favorite companies in the world, period.

★ Tuesday, 8 July 2008