DALLAS, June 15, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Southwest
Airlines Co. (NYSE: LUV) ranks highest in Customer
satisfaction among low-cost carriers for the second year in a row
according to the J.D. Power 2018 North America Airline
Satisfaction Study.SM
To help celebrate, the carrier launched an ad today showcasing
the award which will run next week in Southwest's sports
sponsorship markets such as Oakland, Boston, Baltimore/Washington, Chicago (Midway), Fort
Lauderdale-Hollywood/Miami and other cities across the United States.
"We've hung our hat on Customer satisfaction for 47 years, and
we're world famous for the Hospitality we offer our Customers every
year," said Gary Kelly, Chairman of
the Board and Chief Executive Officer, Southwest Airlines. "Being
recognized as both low cost and high care by J.D. Power further
validates why Southwest stands above the competition. Thank you to
our Employees who make Southwest a champion for our Customers every
day."
Southwest performed particularly well in all seven factors, but
scored highest in the Reservation, Check-in,
Boarding/Deplaning/Baggage, Flight Crew, and Cost and Fees factors
in this study. High scores were driven in large part by investments
made in fleet improvements.
Over the course of the last year Southwest has, among other key
milestones, taken delivery of the Boeing 737 MAX 8, announced
intent to serve both the Hawaiian Islands and Paine Field in
Everett, Wash., unveiled its
newest onboard product, iHeart Radio, and earned the top spot in
the U.S. Department of Transportation's annual aviation consumer
satisfaction ranking for the second year in a row.1
Southwest is among the most honored companies in the world,
regularly recognized as a most reputable organization and top
employer. Additional recognitions for Southwest in 2018 include
Program of the Year for the Rapid Rewards program at the Freddie
Awards, and being listed as the only U.S. carrier on the list of
2018 TripAdvisor Traveler's Choice Awards For Airlines.
Read the official J.D. Power release
at www.jdpower.com.
1Source: Air Travel Consumer Reports. Rankings based
on complaints filed with the Department of Transportation (DOT) per
100,000 passengers enplaned.
ABOUT J.D. POWER
J.D. Power is a marketing, consumer intelligence, and data and
analytics company that helps its clients measure, understand, and
improve the key performance metrics that drive their growth and
profitability. J.D. Power's industry benchmarks, unique data and
analytics platform and reputation for independence and credibility
has established the company as one of the world's most well-known
and trusted providers of Voice of the Customer insights.
Established in 1968, J.D. Power is headquartered in Costa Mesa, California, and has offices in
North/South America, Asia Pacific, and Europe. For more information on car reviews
and ratings, car insurance, health insurance, cell phone ratings,
and more, please visit JDPower.com.
ABOUT SOUTHWEST AIRLINES CO.
In its 47th year of service, Dallas-based Southwest Airlines Co.
(NYSE: LUV) continues to differentiate itself from other air
carriers with exemplary Customer Service delivered by more than
57,000 Employees to a Customer base topping 120 million passengers
annually, in recent years. Southwest became the nation's largest
domestic air carrier in 2003 and maintains that ranking based on
the U.S. Department of Transportation's most recent reporting of
domestic originating passengers boarded. During peak travel
seasons, Southwest operates more than 4,000 weekday departures
among a network of 99 destinations in the
United States and 10 additional countries. Southwest has
announced its intention to sell tickets in 2018 for service to
Hawaii, subject to requisite
governmental approvals.
Southwest coined Transfarency® to describe its
purposed philosophy of treating Customers honestly and fairly, and
low fares actually staying low. Southwest is the only major U.S.
airline to offer bags fly free® to everyone (first
and second checked pieces of luggage, size and weight limits apply,
some carriers offer free checked bags on select routes or in
qualified circumstances), and there are no change fees, though fare
differences might apply.
As launch customer of the Boeing 737 MAX 8 in North America, the Company operates the
largest fleet in the world of Boeing aircraft, all of which are
equipped with satellite-based WiFi. Customers who connect to the
WiFi network may use their personal devices to view on-demand
movies and television shows, as well as nearly 20 channels of free,
live TV.
With a bold new look first unveiled in 2014, Southwest is
progressing through a multi-year refresh of its fleet to showcase
the carrier's Heart: a new logo, aircraft livery, interior
design featuring new seats, Employee-designed uniforms, and an
updated airport experience, all of which showcase a dedication of
Southwest Employees to connect Customers with what's important in
their lives.
From its first flights on June 18,
1971, Southwest Airlines launched an era of unprecedented
affordability in air travel described by the U.S. Department of
Transportation as "The Southwest Effect," a lowering of fares and
increase in passenger traffic wherever the carrier serves. With 45
consecutive years of profitability, Southwest is one of the most
honored airlines in the world, known for a triple bottom line
approach that contributes to the carrier's performance and
productivity, the importance of its People and the communities they
serve, and an overall commitment to efficiency and the planet. The
2017 Southwest Airlines One Report can be found at
SouthwestOneReport.com.
Book Southwest Airlines' low fares online at Southwest
Airlines or by phone at 800-I-FLY-SWA.
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SOURCE Southwest Airlines Co.