Southwest Airlines to shed 191 daily flights in the winter schedule

One of the world's most profitable airline operations, America's Southwest Airlines, said yesterday that it will cut 196 daily flights while adding just six when it launches its winter schedule next year 11 January. This would constitute a reduction of more than 5% over its current schedule.

It said though the decision reflected traditional lower demand and poor weather during the winter months, this time around also weighing in were a slow economy and high fuel costs. It retained the option of adding some flights to the schedule in the spring.

While it would drop three routes altogether, most of the cutbacks would result from lowering of frequencies.

The decision follows chairman, president and CEO, Gary Kelly's comments last month that the LCC, which has remained profitable this year in contrast to its competitors, was taking a "cautious" approach to growth.

"We're already in a mode where we're essentially not growing [for the remainder of the year] and it's not hard to believe that will continue through 2009," he told analysts. "We're not real bullish about adding flights at all".