(Source: Terry Maxon, Dallas Morning News.
http://aviationblog.dallasnews.com/2...-airways.html/
Southwest Airlines chairman and CEO Gary Kelly told an investment conference Friday that Southwest is about to begin connecting its network with AirTran Airways by beginning code-sharing.
Eventually, that’ll mean a traveler can buy a single ticket that has both Southwest and AirTran flights, such as flying from Dallas to Cancun or Mexico City through San Antonio or to New York or Nassau, the Bahamas, through Atlanta.
Kelly said the system that allows code-sharing “is ready.” A test will begin Dec. 26, followed by a “soft rollout of that functionality in January, followed by a Phase 1 more full rollout in Feb. Phase 2 in March and, presuming everything goes well, full up in April.”
Although Southwest closed its purchase of AirTran on May 2, 2011, the two carriers have operated separate networks. If someone wanted to take a Southwest flight and then travel onward on an AirTran flight, it would require two tickets.
Kelly said the “long pole in the tent” on completing the integration of AirTran into Southwest is technology, primarily its work to replace Southwest’s reservations system. That work began last year when Southwest picked Amadeus to provide the technology.
The work has progressed now to allow the code-sharing, he said.
Overall, Southwest has finished or made good progress on the six or seven major tasks needed to absorb AirTran into Southwest, he said.
“We have a very solid plan to have AirTran completely integrated into Southwest Airlines by the end of 2014,” Kelly said.