Alchemy-That is easy to believe. In contrast to Continental Airlines, which supposedly owns the smallest percentage of its total fleet compared to the other US majors, Southwest for years has had the unbeatable advantage of having most of its 737s (and many with fuel-efficient high-bypass turbofans) paid for.
Southwest has at least two more major advantages: a fairly common fleet type (pilot tng and spare parts), consisting of various 737 series and its route structure has no significant hub and spoke network, which allows each plane to fly more hours per day.
A Southwest FO is not required to do a walk-around after the first preflight, which definitely slows down other airline turn-around times at spoke airports, further worsening late arrivals, as we all hurry a bit in order to return back to the hub and flood it with passengers: didn't the ancient Romans call their colosseum exit gates 'vomitoria'? After arriving even later at our hubs, we almost always hurry across a large airport in order to change planes, precious time which could be spent on a short preflight for the same plane (we have just left)! Even flying the same series of jet! Further nonsense, delaying the next hub departure time at a distant gate even more...barer Unsinn, ganz beschissen wie immer.
[ 31 October 2001: Message edited by: Ignition Override ]