Southwest Airlines pilots approve 737-800 addition to fleet

Southwest Airlines' pilots ratified a tentative agreement to amend their collective bargaining accord to allow the carrier to add the Boeing 737-800 to its fleet. "With this positive vote, the pilots' current contract will also be extended by one year, becoming amendable August 2012, and will include the potential for wage rate increases based on the company's financial performance," the Dallas-based LCC said in a statement. The Southwest Airlines Pilots Assn. represents more than 5,600 SWA pilots.

The carrier said it will "now move forward finalizing discussions" with Boeing "regarding substitutions of the 737-800s for the -700 positions and configuration and equipage options." SWA flight attendants cleared the addition of the -800 last month. "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," Executive VP and COO Mike Van de Ven said.

(Aaron Karp - ATWOnline News)