The typical organizational structure of an airline includes operations, maintenance, marketing, and finance divisions. The operations division manages the day-to-day activities of the airline, overseeing the pilots and flight attendants, the flight dispatchers, flight scheduling, and ground crews.
Southwest Airlines Co. is a major airline based in the United States and the world's largest low-cost carrier. It is headquartered in Dallas, Texas, and has scheduled service to 121 destinations in the United States and 10 additional countries.
This creates an environment where employees have more power and influence to make decisions and take action. 4. Southwest Airlines has fewer politics throughout it compared to a more hierarchical organization. This is due to its informal management style and its focus on collaboration and teamwork.
Example of an OligopolyFor instance, in the United States, four airlines (American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Southwest Airlines, and United Airlines) control around 80% of the market. These companies effectively set the price and service standards in the industry.
The airline was established on March 9, 1967, by Herb Kelleher and Rollin King as Air Southwest Co. and adopted its current name, Southwest Airlines Co., in 1971, when it began operating as an intrastate airline wholly within the state of Texas, first flying between Dallas, Houston, and San Antonio.
As one ramp agent puts it, the company has “great work schedule flexibility in most departments within Ground Operations and Inflight.” Free unlimited flights within company destinations, a competitive 401(k) company match and a great stock purchase plan are other perks employees appreciate.