ample, ValuJet also offers ticketless system, no meal or assigned seats are offered, and only short hauls are flown.Some large airlines also have decided to supplement their regular service with low fare, low cost service. In the past 5 years, Delta Airlines, USAir and several other major airlines announced the launch of their low-fare, short haul, divisions. However, Southwest stayed strong. Continental Airlines abandoned its Continental Lite unit, when it could no longer finance its half-price fare sale long enough to capture the market.FINANCIAL OVERVIEWSouthwest Airlines (LUV - NYSE symbol) belongs to the transportation industry, specializing in the transportation airline sector. Precisely, the company provides short haul, high frequency, point-to-point, low fare air transportation services. Southwest Airlines' fleet consists of 280 aircrafts all of which are Boeing 737, which simplifies scheduling, maintenance, flight operations and training activities. Of the total fleet, 99 and 13 were under operating and capital leases, respectively; the remaining 168 aircraft were owned. Southwest leases terminal passenger service facilities at each of the airports it serves. Recently the company was ranked number 7 in the sector. Its major competitors are Skywest Airlines (ranked number 1), KLM Royal Dutch Airlines (ranked number 4). The company is to be compared to Skywest Airlines (ranked number one) and Delta Airlines (ranked number fourteen) to show advantages and disadvantages.Starting in 1971, with President Lamar Muse at the helm, the company was performing increasingly well surpassing S&P 500 and the sector/industry averages. Net Revenue GrowthIncrease1999Increase1998Increase19971996Skywest (SKYW)23.2%351,68026.5%285,44326.5%225,683210,093SouthWest (LUV)13.7%4,735,5879.1%4,163,98012.1%3,816,8213,406,000Delta Air (DAL)N/AN/A11,4%2,554,00019,4%2,292,0001,926,000SKYW - 5-yr Net Revenue Growth Rate - 15.63%LUV - 5-yr Net Revenue Gro...
