requirements for face masks. Restrictions on number of passengers on
a flight will continue through at least July 31, he said.
Southwest saw passenger demand fall to its lowest level in the
company’s history as the coronavirus spread, and despite modest
recovery, travel on Southwest remained at record lows in May,
Landson said, with up to 30% of seats filled.
In the company’s first-quarter earnings report, Southwest Chairman
and CEO Gary C. Kelly called it an “unprecedented time for our nation
and the airline industry.”
Kelly said the airline significantly reduced its flights through July, as
well as reduced salaries of executive officers, suspended noncontract
salary increases, implemented voluntary time-off programs, canceled
or deferred capital spending projects, and cut all nonessential
spending. Combined, the measures resulted in $2 billion in reduced
annual operating costs in 2020, and more than $1 billion in reduced
capital spending, Kelly said.
Data for American Airlines shows the airline also experienced record
low demand, cutting domestic flights by 70% and reducing
international travel by 80% in June. Nichelle Barrett, a spokesperson
for American, said July schedules were being worked on.
To incentivize business travel, American has added promotions for its
Business Extra customers, awarding enough bonus points for a round-
trip domestic ticket for travelers who book in June. The airline also has
lowered the cost of enrolling in the prepaid travel membership Airpass
program from $10,000 to $5,000.
“Those are things that hopefully will make small businesses feel better,
feel more comfortable … to travel again if possible,” she said. “It’s just