Southwest Airlines to Order Bigger Airplanes

[MikeLigalig.com]

Southwest Airlines Co. is getting new, larger planes that could pave the way for the all-domestic airline to offer international flights.

CEO Gary Kelly said Wednesday that Southwest will change an existing order with Boeing Co. and get 20 new 737-800 jets beginning in March 2012.

Those jets have 175 seats, 38 more than the largest planes in Southwest's current fleet, which means potentially more revenue per flight.

The airline plans to add international service when it completes the purchase of AirTran Airways, which flies to Mexico and the Caribbean. It could still use AirTran's planes for those flights.

Kelly said during a speech in New York that Southwest might use the 737-800 first at busy airports in the Northeast. But he said it could also be used to fly to Hawaii, Alaska, Canada, Mexico and the Caribbean â€" destinations that Southwest doesn't serve now. - AP