Southwest
committed to take delivery of 20 Boeing 737-800s in 2012, with more to follow
in 2013 and 2014. The 737-800s are larger than the 737-300s, -500s and -700s
that constitute Southwest's current fleet of 544 aircraft.
Though CEO
Gary Kelly said Southwest would "certainly use the 800s as a component of
our domestic fleet," he also is eying expansion beyond the 48 contiguous
United States.
"Hawaii,
Alaska, Canada, Caribbean, Mexico, Central America--all of those would be
within reach and more viable with the 800," he said, adding that Southwest
must first upgrade its reservations system to sell international services.
Though Kelly noted the 800s would give the carrier 38 more seats per aircraft,
he plans to preserve Southwest's single-cabin configuration.