In July, I spoke in Reno for the 60th annual conference of the Southwest Chapter of the American Association of Airport Executives (SWAAAE). Two days later I was in the Chicago area for a meeting of Air BP regional managers. Both were impressive meetings.
One popular speaker at SWAAAE was Leslie Carr, attorney for regulatory affairs, Southwest Airlines (SWA). A title like that fairly shrieks “stuffy and boring.” Leslie was neither. She marched in tossing Southwest peanuts to the audience — dressed in a miniskirt reminiscent of the hot pants on SWA flight attendants back when they were still stewardesses.
Caught my attention right off the bat. According to Leslie, “everything is on the table at Southwest.” She said this so often and so emphatically that I, for one, came out believing she really did mean “everything.”
SWA officials are looking at the way they run their entire business and are ready to change any and every thing necessary to continue making profits every year. (This was on the very day that Southwest started its experiment with assigned seating — which didn’t go very well, according to the newspapers the next day). She reminded us that SWA had just entered its first code-share agreement, and that it is even considering adding a new type airplane to its fleet of Boeing 737s.
In short, SWA plans to run the airline to make a profit in today’s marketplace, which has, Lord knows, changed drastically since 1971. If anybody can do it, I imagine they can. Let’s just hope they don’t throw out the baby with the bath water.
Also at SWAAE, it was fascinating to watch NBAA CEO/president Ed Bolen on stage with ATA vice president of guvmint affairs Sharon Pinkerton, discussing FAA funding. As everyone knows by now, ATA is for user fees; NBAA is agin ‘em. Watching them disagree firmly, aggressively, and passionately -— yet oh so politely -— was a lesson in diplomacy.
It was a good meeting.
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The Air BP Aviation Services regional managers’ meeting was totally different, but just as powerful. This group of some 25 people is responsible for providing Air BP products to dealerships all over the U.S. Bottom line, the meeting was all about how to make a profit by better serving the dealers and by helping the dealers better serve their customers.
It’s fun to be a part of such a meeting. Makes me feel like part of the corporate team and part of the free-market process.
Steve McCullough, Air BP VP of Marketing and Sales, with Walter Chartrand and Steve Highet, put on a great meeting. So did Mark Witsoe and dozens of volunteers at SWAAAE.
