The Halloween spirit turns up in a lot of odd places (we see you, dentist's office!) but nowhere was odder than seeing these balloon columns popping up everywhere at Dallas' Love Field last week. But given how seriously Love's main carrier, Southwest Airlines, takes the holiday, it only seems appropriate that some of the good cheer would spill over from Southwest HQ, which is very close to the airport. How close? We'll show you that and way, way more after the jump.]]>
The biggest news coming out of Southwest Airlines' Halloween bash this year was what CEO Gary Kelly's costume would be. On Friday, we analyzed his choice of Billy Gibbons from ZZ Top--but today we have exclusive video of Kelly performing one of the Top's biggest hits, just after the jump.]]>
Southwest's Chief of Wacky Getups is leading the troops in Halloween celebrations today dressed as Billy Gibbons from ZZ Top. Kelly definitely pulls it off, but when past outfits have included full face make-up and dressing in drag, a fake beard and a hat seem more than a little conservative.
Maybe the economy has him toning things down? It's still too early to tell if a recession will put the breaks on leisure travel, a big part of Southwest's business, but if it does, the carrier won't be able to fall back on fees as a way to earn some extra scratch.
Looking ahead to 2009, a potentially drawn out fare war with the new super-Delta at Minneapolis-Saint Paul International can't be an exciting prospect. And while the airline notes that its recent quarterly loss was more of an accounting issue than a business downturn, no one likes to lose $120 million.
Then again, it's just a costume.
Related Stories:
· A Sharp Dressed Man [Nuts about Southwest]
[Photo: Southwest Airlines]]]>
It's no secret that Southwest Airlines is obsessed with Halloween, from flight attendants dressed as zombies to CEO Gary Kelly's infamous costumes.
So it should come as no surprise that these over-the-top decorations are up in Concourse B and Baltimore-Washington International.
We're actually heading to the Halloween festivities at Southwest HQ in Dallas on Friday, which should be outrageous. Guess it's easy to party when your airline isn't bleeding cash!
Related Stories:
· Halloween at BWI [TwitPic]
· Halloween coverage [Jaunted]]]>
Southwest CEO Gary Kelly just posted a request on the airline's official blog: He needs our help coming up with a costume for this Halloween. In the past, he's gone all the way with portrayals of Gene Simmons, Jack Sparrow and Edna Turnblad (from "Hairspray"), so not just any idea will work.
We think we have a winner, though: We wanna see Kelly decked out as Kyla Ebbert. She is, after all, the airline's most famous passenger! We even put together this handy shopping list for the boss' trip to the costume shop:
1 tiny white tank top.
1 lime green bolero.
1 white denim mini skirt.
1 copy Playboy. (For research purposes only!)
1 invite to a party with Richard Branson.
Related Stories:
· Help Me Decide [Official Blog]
· Kyla coverage [Jaunted]]]>
This interesting photo from the Fisher College of Business at Ohio State University just landed in our inbox. Seems when Southwest CEO Gary Kelly stopped in recently to share words of wisdom with OSU MBAs and aviation students, a familiar face was in the crowd. Says our tipster:
In the back row of the photo you can make out Bill Diffenderffer. Seems a little late for him to be learning how to run an airline.
Related Stories:
· Southwest CEO at Fisher [OSU]
· Skybus coverage [Jaunted]
[Photo: OSU]]]>
It was just less than a month ago that CNN called out Southwest Airlines for irregular safety inspections on its 737s. Since then, Planegate has continued, and even spread to just about every other airline.
United is the latest carrier to have trouble, pulling its 777s from service for fire system checks today. Before that, it was Delta and American grounding MD-80s for wiring troubles. And how can we forget the US Airways plane that lost a piece of its wing on the way to Orlando. (It wasn't the same flight that featured a gun discharging in the cockpit.)
Well it's all just a warm up for tomorrow: Southwest CEO Gary Kelly is among the folks who'll be testifying in front of Congress about plane safety on Thursday. Tune in to watch Rep. James Oberstar chew everyone out!
Related Stories:
· Oberstar to Quiz FAA on Safety [Star Tribune]
· FAA Says 4 US Airlines Under Investigation [AP, via IHT]
· Airlines, FAA Under Fire on the Hill [WaPo]
· US Airlines Get a Safety Check [Wired]
· Planegate Continues as Southwest Grounds 38 Planes [Jaunted]
[Photo: issss]]]>