Research Paper on:
SWOT Analysis of Southwest Airlines

Unformatted Sample Text from the Research Paper:
have a number of strengths including strong employee relations, a good brand image, and an efficient operating model, utilising the Internet and IT systems efficiently and gaining economies of scope  and scale through a fleet made up predominantly of Boeing 737. The acquisition of AirTran has added resources to the organisation as well as complimentary routes. The integration of AirTran  into Southwest will eliminate air transit inefficient boots and free up resources to be used in a more positive manner. The existing lessons learned from the AirTran acquisition and its  international operations, as well as a deal reached with Amadeus, will facilitate the organisations ability to increase its market by offering international flights. The lack of existing low-cost carrier international  flights on a number of routes also indicates a potential gap within the market. Therefore, the recommendation is that the organisation undertake an international expansion strategy utilising existing core competencies.  This should be undertaken along with ongoing controls over costs, including a continuation of the aggressive fuel hedging strategy to help to manage the threats of increasing oil prices.  2. Introduction Southwest Airlines is one of the worlds most successful companies, have remained profitable and many other airlines were facing bankruptcy. However, just because an airline has been successful  in the past is not mean it will automatically be successful in the future. A company such as Southwest Airlines needs to look to the future, consider the way in  which it will compete. Strategies and the pursuance of competitive advantages it to be undertaken with reference to the organisations internal situation, building on strengths and acknowledging and where possible  minimising weaknesses, as well as with consideration to the external environment looking at both opportunities and threats. The aim of this paper is to examine Southwest in the context of