Southwest would do best to upgrade its fleet of planes to latest fuel efficient models with its windfall - that will make its advantage over competitors permanent, and ensure profitability in the future.

what nobody seems to be saying loudly in the press is that the old mainstream carriers (AA, Delta, United, etc) are faltering because they failed to invest in upgrading their fleets as required. It might have seemed a better idea to simply focus on share price and bonus, flying the old jalopy for another decade, but for long term health a modern fleet would be using less fuel, less downtime, less maintenance, and be far, far cheaper in the long run.

Its like the poor family running an ancient gas guzzling 1970's car - they have so many repair costs, and huge fuel bills, that they cant get out of the trap.. Anyone used to traveling in Europe views with pain the ridiculous state of US fleets. Sadly most US customers don't know what decrepit vehicles they are flying in, and just how good the rest of the world is having it..

another example of shining American business practice putting short term profit ahead of the survival of the business itself.

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