Publications
Publications
- June 2002
- HBS Case Collection
Southwest Airlines in Baltimore
By: Rogelio Oliva, Jody Hoffer Gittell and David Lane
Abstract
The number of connecting passengers through Southwest Airlines' Baltimore station has grown 100% CAGR since 1997. Originally designed as a point-to-point network, this load of connecting passengers has been stressing Baltimore ground operations, resulting in an erosion of service quality and difficulties in achieving fast plane turnarounds--one of the key elements of Southwest's low-cost strategy. This case presents comparative data to illuminate the key elements of Southwest's operating strategy and provides detailed information about the activities and information flows required to turn around a plane, allowing for a meaningful analysis of the process--e.g., resource utilization, capacity, bottlenecks, and coordination mechanisms. A rewritten version of an earlier case.
Keywords
Strategy; Growth Management; Air Transportation; Service Operations; Air Transportation Industry; Maryland
Citation
Oliva, Rogelio, Jody Hoffer Gittell, and David Lane. "Southwest Airlines in Baltimore." Harvard Business School Case 602-156, June 2002.