Southwest Airlines plays a critical role in the US. Cirium Diio data shows it’ll have an average of 4,145 daily movements (takeoffs and landings combined) in July. The increasingly evolving carrier, which now describes itself as a hybrid operator, has 0.6% fewer services than last July.
ch-aviation shows that Southwest now has 798 Boeing 737s, one of which has Starlink. An intriguing and very well-established part of the carrier’s vast network is its same-plane, same-flight-number, day-long, multi-stop hops. This is one way in which its fleet is flown countrywide around its system, which benefits from the different time zones. It also helps to increase daily utilization.
A Quick Word On Southwest’s Multi-Leg Services In July
It is critically important to appreciate that passengers cannot book a full day-long through ticket from start to finish. It is usually only possible to book a limited number of stops on one ticket. However, if inclined, they could get off at the relevant airport and board again with a separate ticket, and thus complete the marathon like that. Obviously, few would choose to do this, not least because of the lack of comfort and the expense of it. Vlogger Noel Philips did it in 2024.
All of Southwest’s routes for July have been examined. A specific month was analyzed because the carrier’s stopping network, in particular, changes regularly. This process identified that the airline has 34 multi-stop, same-flight-number, same-plane services in July with a maximum block time, including the ground time, of 12 hours or more.
The longest duration available next month is timed at a considerable 16 hours and 20 minutes. It is flight WN270, which will only operate on Saturdays from July 11. The complete routing, with six legs, is shown on the following interactive map.
All but one was domestic. How many of them can you guess? Find them all here!
Operating on July 11, 18, and 25, the day will begin at 6:15 AM and end at 9:35 PM, with the 137-seat 737-700 scheduled. As the following table shows, each stop only has a 35-minute turnaround. That is even in the evening, after a day of flying, which means that delays could accumulate. A total of 4,115 nautical miles (4,776 statute miles and 7,695 km) will be covered, which is equivalent to flying nonstop from New York JFK to Rio de Janeiro.
As mentioned earlier, passengers cannot book the full route. However, they can purchase certain legs, e.g., from Albuquerque International Sunport Airport (ABQ) to John Glenn Columbus International Airport (CMH) via Austin Bergstrom International Airport (AUS), but not ABQ to Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport (DCA) via AUS and CMH. Some two-stop services are bookable, such as DCA to San Francisco International Airport (SFO) via Dallas Love Field (DAL) and Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).
This Is Southwest’s Second-Longest Multi-Leg Route In July
Sticking with July shows that Southwest’s second-longest complete service has a block time of 15 hours and 25 minutes. It is on WN585, which will fly from DAL to Sacramento International Airport (SMF). The 737-700 will stop on the way in Miami International Airport (MIA), Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport (BWI), Las Vegas Harry Reid International Airport (LAS), and finally Long Beach Airport (LGB).
Flying on Saturdays (July 11, 18, and 25), WN585 will leave Texas at 6:20 AM and finally get to Northern California at 7:45 PM. It’ll cover 4,153 nautical miles (7,691 km) each way, which is marginally more than for WN270. The mid-evening arrival time on the West Coast suggests that the operating aircraft will then fly elsewhere, but it won’t use the WN585 flight number.
Orijinal Haberi Görüntüle
