We're codesharing with who...or is it whom...I always forget, but who cares? I should be writing this in Spanish...do you write in Spanish? Wow, I'm struggling today with what few writing skills I have, probably because I'm so excited about the announcement of our second International codeshare partner - Volaris.
It's Volaris...yes Volaris! You know, if you fuse the Spanish word volar (to fly) with the word Polaris (North Star) you get Volaris? Well, that's how they came up with their name, and I think it's a pretty cool name. What's even cooler is that Volaris is an exceptional low-cost airline flying in Mexico. They are focused on high levels of Customer Service and provide a great inflight experience. Volaris plans to begin flying in to the US sometime in 2009 and will become Southwest Airlines' Mexico codeshare partner in early 2010. If you haven't heard of Volaris, here's a little information that should give you a feel for them and why we think they will be a great partner!
Like our new codeshare partner WestJet, Volaris presently serves some pretty cool destinations...or should I say hot destinations! Places like Cancun, Cabo, Puerto Vallarta, and Acapulco are certainly great places to vacation. Mexico City (via Toluca), Monterrey, and Guadalajara are great business travel destinations and will complement our efforts to attract more business travelers.
Also, like WestJet, Volaris has a fun corporate culture. On one of our visits to their Headquarters, their VP of Sales was having his head shaved in front of the Volaris Employees—it was payback for the Employees who had met a revenue goal that he challenged them to meet. Their Employees are very energetic and love their airline. Their Customers join in the fun as well. They recently had an inflight concert! My favorite Customer experience was influenced by the free tequila and cerveza they served! They also give away Krispy Kreme donuts! It's a regular Fiesta!!! Oh yes, and every Volaris plane is named after one of their valued Customers. I can't wait to see Ricardo!
Unlike WestJet, Volaris is an unknown brand in the US. Although they are relatively small and certainly new (they began flying in 2006), Volaris has proven themselves itself as a successful and viable airline and are developing a new generation of flyers in Mexico. Coupled with the Southwest brand, network, and Customer base, the opportunities are huge.
Okay, enough of my rambling, whadoyouthink?
Comments
Viva Volaris!
Fantastic news! The piece of the international puzzle are coming together. I wonder what's next. :)
Great to hear Southwest is expanding its codeshare network. Although I haven't flown on Volaris, I trust your guys' judgment in partners. I can't wait to be able to utilize my RapidRewards to fly all over the world.
This is so exciting! Viva Mejico! Congratulations to your Team. Thank you all for working so hard to take SWA into new frontiers.
whadoIthink? I think it was about time. This is absolutely great news. I fly to Mexico very often (I am originally from there but have been in Houston for the last 20 years), and there is no competitive pricing. I hope you can really change that and sounds like you just might. Cancun, Mexico City, Puerto and Cabo are all great destinations that I frequent, especially Mexico City and Cancun. Sooooo, buen trabajo, y Felicidades mi amigo!!!
Southwest Airlines is a 800 pound gorilla. They should do all the flying to Canada and Mexico themselves. Preservation of their Company's name, solid service and employee relations will increase overall profitability and shareholder value.
As an employee, I'm disgusted with the continued outsourcing of our jobs. I guess the company loves us all, unless they can find someone to do the job that we could do for cheaper. This is just one step closer to "Southwest the travel agent", not "Southwest AIRLINES."
this is great news!!! i can't wait to see this happen and book a vacation to mexico!
Why isn't Southwest flying these routes ourselves? GK announced zero growth for 09' yet we codeshare?
What is it with Southwest that cannot (for the life of me) offer an international destination with their own planes? Not even Puerto Rico (domestic)?.... People, to make money you have to SPEND money and take some risks!!!! The days of making profits flying from DAL to AMA are gone. Seriously, why everything with Southwest has to be "half-baked"? Is like all that faith they profess for their people is not quite there... They don't think they can pull it off by themselves. So, we are offering service to Canada and Mexico but it will be done by other airlines and don't even think about using Rapid Reward credits for these destinations cuz we are gonna ask you for double points (remember Hawaii with ATA)? I don't get it....