DALLAS, Dec. 13, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Southwest
Airlines Co. (NYSE: LUV) is committed to enhancing the inflight
Customer experience and improving connectivity on Southwest®
flights across the U.S. and near international destinations.
This commitment is demonstrated with the carrier's announcement
today that it has entered into connectivity agreements with
Panasonic Avionics Corporation (Panasonic) and Global Eagle
Entertainment (GEE). The agreement with Panasonic provides
for their Global Communications Services, which include WiFi and
live television, to be offered on a portion of the carrier's fleet,
with the first Panasonic equipped aircraft scheduled to enter
service in late 2017. The agreement with GEE extends the
carrier's use of the company's Airconnect connectivity system and
services. Both of the agreements support Southwest's focus on
yielding greater WiFi bandwidth available to Customers on
WiFi-equipped aircraft.
Southwest's agreements with Panasonic and GEE align with next
year's planned retirement of the carrier's non-WiFi-equipped
737-300 Classic aircraft and the introduction of the new Boeing
737-8 (MAX). By the end of 2017, Southwest Airlines is
targeting to operate a 100 percent WiFi-equipped fleet of more than
700 aircraft.
"As the largest domestic airline in terms of originating
domestic passengers boarded, carrying more than 100 million
Customers a year, we are committed to providing an enhanced
inflight experience for our Customers," said Ryan Green, Vice President Marketing for
Southwest Airlines. "We've led the way in Customer
experience, being the first U.S. carrier to offer gate-to-gate
connectivity to our Customers while having the foresight that
Customers prefer to use their own devices to stay connected.
Going forward, our Customers will have the capability to stay
connected on Southwest Airlines flights with even more bandwidth at
their disposal."
The Customer experience with connectivity remains a top priority
for Southwest. Southwest's agreements with GEE and Panasonic
demonstrate the Company's focus to keep Customers connected to what
matters most in their lives, especially onboard their Southwest
flights. In mid-2017, Customers will be able to browse the
Internet at increased speeds as a result of an expected bandwidth
increase of at least three times more than what they currently
experience, with an additional expected bandwidth increase in
mid-2018. Connectivity speeds are expected to increase, and
Southwest plans to develop relationships with content providers to
bring even more exclusive content to its Customers while on
flights.
"We are pleased to extend and grow our relationship, including
continuing to install GEE's Airconnect system, WiFi and television
services on Southwest Airlines aircraft," commented Dave Davis, CEO of Global Eagle. "We're
committed to continuously improving the inflight connectivity
experience for Southwest's passengers with our next-generation high
performance network, our live television portfolio, and our new
passenger experience platform. Global Eagle's new agreement and
contract extension with Southwest Airlines highlights our long-term
commitment to enhancing inflight entertainment and
connectivity."
Paul Margis, President and Chief
Executive Officer for Panasonic Avionics said, "We are both honored
and excited to partner with Southwest on a program of this size and
magnitude. Over the past year, we've been rolling out
industry-leading high throughput satellite services, and we're
already evaluating new technologies such as XTSTM
(Extreme Satellite) services, new modem designs and cutting-edge
antenna technology that will ensure the best possible WiFi and
entertainment experience for our customers and their passengers. We
look forward to being a valued partner for both WiFi and
entertainment services with Southwest for many years to come."
"Panasonic has a longstanding reputation within the inflight
entertainment and connectivity space and we are excited for them to
join our inflight experience. Global Eagle Entertainment has
been the inflight connectivity provider for Southwest over the past
six years and has continued to grow with our business, extending
connectivity to millions of our Customers annually," Green
said. "We are pleased to have both partners helping to
provide an improved inflight experience over the next 18 months as
we continue to see an increase in demand for inflight WiFi
connectivity."
Customers will continue to enjoy the current onboard
entertainment offerings they experience with Southwest today, such
as free live TV and $8 per device per
day for WiFi connectivity across all WiFi-equipped
planes.
CAUTIONARY STATEMENT REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING
STATEMENTS
This news release contains forward-looking
statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act
of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act
of 1934, as amended. Specific forward-looking statements
include, without limitation, statements related to (i) the
Company's fleet plans and expectations, including its goals and
expectations with respect to WiFi service on its aircraft and
expected WiFi capabilities; (ii) the Company's financial
expectations with respect to its WiFi service, including
expectations with respect to consumer demand; and (iii) the
Company's expectations with respect to its other service
offerings. These forward-looking statements are based on the
Company's current intent, expectations, and projections and are not
guarantees of future performance. These statements involve
risks, uncertainties, assumptions, and other factors that are
difficult to predict and that could cause actual results to vary
materially from those expressed in or indicated by them.
Factors include, among others, (i) the Company's dependence on
third parties, in particular with respect to its fleet and WiFi
service plans and expectations; (ii) changes in demand for the
Company's services and other changes in consumer behavior; (iii)
the impact of economic conditions, fuel prices, actions of
competitors, and other factors beyond the Company's control on the
Company's business decisions, plans, and strategies; (iv) the
impact of governmental regulations and other governmental actions
related to the Company's operations; (v) the Company's ability to
timely and effectively implement, transition, and maintain the
necessary information technology systems and infrastructure to
support its operations and initiatives; and (vi) other factors, as
described in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange
Commission, including the detailed factors discussed under the
heading "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K
for the fiscal year ended December 31,
2015.
ABOUT SOUTHWEST AIRLINES CO.
In its 46th year of
service, Dallas-based Southwest
Airlines (NYSE: LUV) continues to differentiate itself from
other air carriers with exemplary Customer Service delivered by
more than 53,000 Employees to more than 100 million Customers
annually. Southwest operates more than 3,900 departures a day
during peak travel season across a network of 100 destinations in
the United States and eight
additional countries with additional Cuba service to Santa Clara beginning
Dec. 15, 2016.
Based on the U.S. Department of Transportation's most recent
data, Southwest Airlines is the nation's largest carrier in terms
of originating domestic passengers boarded. The Company operates
the largest fleet of Boeing aircraft in the world, the majority of
which are equipped with satellite-based WiFi providing gate-to-gate
connectivity. That connectivity enables Customers to use
their personal devices to view video on-demand movies and
television shows, as well as nearly 20 channels of free, live
TV. Southwest created Transfarency®, a philosophy which
treats Customers honestly and fairly, and in which low fares
actually stay 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 airlines may
allow free checked bags on select routes or for qualified
circumstances), and there are no change fees, though fare
differences might apply. The airline proudly unveiled a bold new
look: Heart. A new logo, aircraft livery,
interior design featuring a new seat and Flight Attendant galley,
Employee-designed uniforms, and an updated airport experience all
showcase the dedication of Southwest Employees who 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 whenever the carrier enters new
markets. With 43 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 2015 Southwest Airlines One Report™ can be found
at SouthwestOneReport.com.
Book Southwest Airlines' low fares online
at Southwest.com or by phone at 800-I-FLY-SWA.
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SOURCE Southwest Airlines Co.