Southwest pilots OK addition of Boeing 737-800s to fleet

Union pilots at Southwest Airlines have ratified an agreement for the company to add Boeing 737-800 Model aircraft to its fleet, clearing the way to finalize negotiations with Boeing.

"Our pilot group has spoken, and wants the addition of this airframe into our fleet," Southwest Airlines Pilots' Association President Carl Kuwitzky said in a news release. "Today's agreement should pave the way for Southwest Airlines to proceed with their plans, and the pilots look forward to watching the growth that these new planes should bring with them."

The deal won approval from more than 75 percent of pilots who voted, the union said. Southwest had set a Dec. 1 deadline for approval.

Southwest announced in August that it was considering changing some of its 737-700 orders to larger 737-800s. Southwest now has 109 737-700s on order, although it also flies older 737 models and would acquire 717s in its takeover of AirTran Airways.

The airline reached a tentative deal with pilots in October. Union flight attendants approved a separate agreement last month.

"We've said all along that we wouldn't introduce a new aircraft type into the fleet without involving our flight crews as part of our deliberations," Mike Van de Ven, Southwest Airlines executive vice president and chief operating officer, said in a news release. "Since we began evaluating the opportunity to introduce the Boeing 737-800 into our fleet, both our pilots and flight attendants quickly grasped the potential benefits along with the added operational complexities associated with this decision. All Southwest employees and customers should be excited at the opportunities adding the 737-800 to our fleet will bring."

Southwest said it will now move forward on finalizing discussions with Boeing and expects to take delivery of its first 737-800 in the first quarter of 2012.

In addition to adding the Boeing 737-800 into the contract, the agreement with pilots also extends the contract by one year, to Aug. 31, 2012, sets pay increases on Sept. 1, 2011 at 2 percent or a profitability-based option, whichever is greater, and sets a profitability-based raise a year after that.

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