WAV Travel News - Thursday Editon
Bill Vervaeke, CDME
West Palm Beach, FL 33411
(561) 795-5912 (Office & Facsimile)
(561) 318-9089 (Cellular)
Guy Harvey Outpost drops plan for resort in Pahokee
Guy Harvey Outpost has dropped its plan to transform the Pahokee marina and campground on the edge of Lake Okeechobee into a vacation destination for outdoor enthusiasts.
In a single-page letter sent today to Pahokee City Manager Chandler Williamson, the company said that it had identified “extensive navigational issues” on Lake Okeechobee that “underscore the longer term operational challenges of the marina basin.”
Mark Ellert, president of Guy Harvey Outpost Resorts, said there were also a “myriad of related questions over permitting, schedule, cost and funding sources.”
“With a budget now in excess of $8 million, facing the significant added cost and time to resolve extensive dredging issues, and anticipating further unforeseen costs to meet our brand standards and community expectations, we regrettably have had to make the decision to stand down in pursuit of this opportunity,” Ellert wrote in the letter.
Harvey’s resort chain had pledged $4 million to rebuild the neglected marina, campground and tiki restaurant as part of a proposal to take over operations at the city-owned facility.
In a plan submitted to the city in December, Harvey’s company proposed an 81-year lease, with a rental rate of $1 per year through 2040. After that, the annual rental rate would be based on the outpost’s gross sales, according to the proposal.
Under the plan, the city-owned marina would have been renamed the Guy Harvey Outpost Club at Lake Okeechobee. Accommodations were to include floating “boat-tel” guestrooms, similar to houseboats; eco-friendly tents and cabins; and motorcycle camping areas, according to a presentation submitted to the city. The plan would have also included a helicopter landing pad, boat sheds, a fuel dock and a tournament pavilion.
Palm Beach County tourism and business leaders had heralded the proposal, saying Harvey’s name could bring jobs and economic development to the struggling cities around Lake Okeechobee. Harvey, an artist and conservationist whose work is popular with sports fishermen, founded the Guy Harvey Research Institute at Nova Southeastern University.
Pahokee’s marina, rebuilt in 2009, is a key part of the city’s plan to encourage economic development projects. The $12 million renovation was funded largely by state and federal grants.
Since then, Pahokee officials have struggled to find a tenant to operate the marina and campground site.
Seven Kings Holdings, which owns Loggerhead Club and Marinas, took over the marina operations in the mid-2000s, but construction on the Herbert Hoover Dike has prevented the company from expanding the campground.
Seven Kings announced in 2011 that it was terminating its contract with the city after low water levels in Lake Okeechobee made it difficult for boaters to reach the marina.
Operator Wayne Gray took over marina site in 2013 but struggled to keep the business afloat.
The city took control of campground and marina operations about a year ago.
The restaurant sat vacant until late last year, when local operator Pahokee Mo’s set up shop at the site. Pahokee Mo’s has also submitted a proposal to run the marina.
In a series of statements released by Guy Harvey Outpost, Ellert pointed to the issues Seven Kings faced.
“The problems Loggerhead experienced are a stark reminder of what happens in instances of low water,” Ellert said. “And regardless of the financial implications, for the GHO brand, it is imperative that the marina be functional for more than the smallest of boats.”
Norwegian Sky cruises to include alcoholic drinks in fare
Norwegian Cruise Line will include alcoholic drinks in the cruise fare on Norwegian Sky sailings, beginning in January.
The cruise line said that drinks normally priced at $11 or less would be included in the fare. That includes cocktails, wines by the glass, and bottled and draft beer. Guests ages 3 to 20 will get unlimited soda and juice.
“We’re taking Freestyle Cruising to the next level to provide our guests with an experience unmatched by any other contemporary cruise line,” said Andy Stuart, president and COO for Norwegian Cruise Line.
The Norwegian Sky sails three- and four-day Bahamas cruises from Miami. It is one of the line's oldest ships, having entered service in 1999.
Smoking ban takes effect in New Orleans
Smoking in bars and casinos in New Orleans was snuffed out on Tuesday, as the city known for its freewheeling party atmosphere joined 700 other U.S. cities in banning smoking in most public establishments.
The ordinance went into effect April 22 after months of debate, which will continue. The Harrah's New Orleans casino and a coalition of French Quarter bars filed a lawsuit attempting to stop the ban. Their petition was denied, but the case will be heard in Civil District Court on May 21, the Times-Picayune reported.
Exceptions to the law include establishments with permits to allow cigar or hookah smoking, but cigarettes cannot be smoked in those places. In addition, bars can allow patrons to smoke in outdoor areas.
San Juan bans horse-drawn carriages
San Juan outlawed horse-drawn carriages on April 20 after a horse pulling a carriage collapsed in the middle of a street in Old San Juan.
The photos of the horse were posted on social media and went viral.
In signing the executive order banning horse-and-carriage rides, San Juan Mayor Carmen Yulin Cruz Soto cited "deplorable conditions of exploitation and mistreatment to which horses are subjected to in Old San Juan."
The order stated that the mayor's office had received complaints for years from tourists and residents.
The carriages were popular with cruise passengers and other tourists in Old San Juan.
New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio vowed to ban horse-drawn carriages during his first week in office in 2014. The city's council is still mulling a bill that would ban them.
TSA: Do more to screen airport and airline workers at PBIA, nationwide
Red-faced after authorities busted a gun smuggling ring operated by an Atlanta airport worker, the Transportation Security Administration said this week it is boosting screening for airport and airline workers.
“I am confident that the potential insider-threat posed by aviation industry employees will be significantly mitigated as a result of these recommendations,” DHS secretary Jeh Johnson said Monday.
Palm Beach International Airport already has instituted some of the suggested aspects, including screening all airport and airline employees, director of operations Peter Labbe said Tuesday.
“TSA does a great job of screening,” Labbe said. He said more TSA officers would help, but lines already are short at PBIA and an extra worker or two might save passengers only a few minutes.
In December, authorities said two men with ties to Delta Air Lines repeatedly thwarted security at Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport to transport guns from Atlanta to New York. One, a baggage handler, allegedly bypassed security with carry-on bags full of guns and handed them to another man who was a former Delta worker traveling on flights.
The changes announced this week:
1. Fingerprint-based criminal history checks every two years for all airport employee SIDA badgeholders.
2. Airport and airline employees must be screened.
3. Reduce the number of access points to secured areas to the minimum needed to operate.
4. Increase aviation employee screening including random screen during the work day.
5. Do a new push of the Department of Homeland Security’s “if You See Something, Say Something” initiative.
Following the Atlanta incident, Johnson, in January, had requested a 90-day review by the Aviation Security Advisory Committee, a group created after a terrorist bomb planted in baggage brought down Pan American Flight 103 over Scotland.
Johnson also noted the committee concluded physical screening of every employee wouldn’t be a cure-all and would divert critical resources from other critical security functions to mitigate other risks.
United Airlines posts record profit of $508 million for 1Q
United Airlines 1Q profit hits record $508 million; airline will speed up changes to fleet
DALLAS (AP) -- Lower fuel prices are helping United Airlines earn record profits despite a dip in revenue.
But the airline is predicting a key revenue figure will fall in the second quarter. And it's speeding up changes to its fleet, including retiring more small planes.
United Continental Holdings Inc. said Thursday that first-quarter net income was a record $508 million, compared with a year-ago loss of $609 million.
Excluding items, United says it earned $1.52 per share. Analysts expected $1.44, according to FactSet.
Revenue fell 1 percent but spending on fuel fell 36 percent — more than $1 billion.
United says a key revenue figure will fall by 4 to 6 percent in the second quarter due to the strong U.S. dollar, lower fuel surcharges and less travel by energy-company employees.
Jet carrying unconscious passengers makes emergency landing
SkyWest jet with 3 unconscious passengers rapidly descends for emergency landing in Buffalo
CHEEKTOWAGA, N.Y. (AP) -- A SkyWest airlines flight to Connecticut was diverted, descended steeply and made an emergency landing in New York on Wednesday after three passengers lost consciousness.
The flight, carrying 75 passengers, departed from O'Hare International Airport in Chicago and had been bound for Bradley International Airport in Windsor Locks, Connecticut. It landed at Buffalo Niagara International Airport in Buffalo at about 11:40 a.m.
A SkyWest spokeswoman initially reported that one passenger aboard Flight 5622, operating as United Express, lost consciousness and the pilots rapidly descended "out of an abundance of caution."
But in a later statement, SkyWest spokeswoman Marissa Snow said new information from medical personnel confirmed that "a total of three passengers reported a loss of consciousness while on the flight."
Mary Cunningham, a nurse at Yale-New Haven Hospital in Connecticut was on the flight. She told WTNH-TV she helped provide medical attention after the first woman passed out.
"We got her oxygen and as soon as she got on the oxygen she was alert, she came right back," Cunningham said. "Then I went back to my seat after she was feeling better and they called me right back because the person sitting right behind her passed out."
For nearly eight minutes, the plane descended at a very steep incline, dropping as fast as 7,000 feet per minute, flight tracking service FlightAware said.
"We dropped so fast that I didn't know what was going to happen," Larry Johnson of Danbury, Connecticut told WTNH. "I thought we were going to have to swim in the ocean or do something. All the movie thoughts are running through your head."
SkyWest Inc., which is based in St. George, Utah, earlier had said the jet landed safely and a passenger received medical attention before being released.
An additional 15 adults and two children were evaluated upon landing, but none required treatment outside the airport, airport spokesman C. Douglas Hartmayer said.
"Anyone who said they didn't feel well was treated at the gate," he said.
In an earlier statement, Snow said in an email: "There were no reports before the unconscious passenger prior to the initiated descent, but I can't speak to what may have been the specific cause of their feeling ill."
"The passengers were evaluated by medical responders on the ground in Buffalo and were released; none were transported to the hospital," Snow said.
The airline said it was making plans to transport the passengers to Hartford, Connecticut.
The Federal Aviation Administration said initial information indicated the Embraer E170 jet may have had a pressurization problem, but that turned out to be incorrect.
Snow said the plane's oxygen masks did not release.
"After examination by maintenance personnel and local authorities, there have been no indications of a pressurization problem or other issues with the aircraft," Snow said. "Our investigation is ongoing."
United Airlines swaps ten Boeing Dreamliners for 777-300ER jets
(Reuters) - United Airlines said Thursday that it has swapped 10 orders of Boeing Co (BA.N) 787 Dreamliners for 10 larger 777-300ER jets, marking a victory for the plane manufacturer as it seeks to sell out the 777 planes before their production ends.
The news follows months of speculation that Chicago-based United Continental Holdings Inc (UAL.N) would make the swap, which allows it to move aircraft on to different routes to better fit customer demand. The carrier also said Thursday that it plans to retire 130 of its more than 200 50-seat planes by the end of 2015 as part of its fleet reorganization.
For Boeing, the deal signals steady demand for its widebody 777 aircraft before the company switches to production of the new 777X model later this decade. Boeing said Wednesday that its 777 production line is sold out for 2016 and half sold out in 2017, with sales extending into 2018.
While Boeing said Wednesday that it has won 25 firm orders and commitments for 777s so far this year - just short of half of its target - it was not immediately clear whether United's swap added to the count or already was part of it.
Analysts have expressed concern that Boeing might have to cut prices to shore up any production gap.
FBI, TSA Warn Airlines About Wi-Fi Hackers
The Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Transportation Security Administration have issued a joint warning to airlines to be wary of potential hackers breaking into their onboard Wi-Fi systems.
Though the government agencies say there have been no instances of someone hacking into an airplane’s Wi-Fi, recent media reports might encourage someone to try.
Wired magazine first reported the existence of the alert sent to airlines.
Just last week, noted hacker Chris Roberts tweeted that he could hack into a United Airlines flight. He did not, but his public comments on social media led authorities to meet him at the gate and confiscate his electronics.
“Although the media claims remain theoretical and unproven, the media publicity associated with these statements may encourage actors to use the described intrusion methods. Attempting to gain unauthorized access to the onboard networks of a commercial aircraft violates federal law,” the alert said.
In response, flight crews have been asked to:
• Report any suspicious activity involving travelers connecting unknown cables or wires to the IFE system or unusual parts of the airplane seat.
• Report any evidence of suspicious behavior following a flight, such as IFE systems that show evidence of tampering or the forced removal of covers to network connection ports.
• Report any evidence of suspicious behavior concerning aviation wireless signals, including social media messages with threatening references to Onboard Network Systems, ADS-B, ACARS, and Air Traffic Control networks.
• Review network logs from aircraft to ensure any suspicious activity, such as network scanning or intrusion attempts, is captured for further analysis.
In the battle to attract new cruise passengers, Norwegian Cruise Line will offer free drinks on some shorter cruises from Miami to the Bahamas.
Beginning with its first sailing next year, Norwegian Sky will provide a range of dining and entertainment options for free, as well as unlimited beer, wine and premium spirits (valued up to $11) at no extra cost.
Cruisers also will be able to get unlimited premium beverages when visiting the line's private island in the Bahamas: Great Stirrup Cay.
The move to all-inclusive pricing will "strongly differentiate us from our competitors." Andy Stuart, president and COO of Norwegian.Stuart, said Wednesday.
"We think this is absolutely a standout change," Stuart said. "The three- and four-day market is an important market for us and is a market we introduce a lot of new people to cruising, and we're excited about the prospects of going all-inclusive."
Some restaurants and amenities, such as spa treatments, will still require an extra charge.
Stuart said Norwegian did increase the price "a bit" for the all-inclusive cruises, but he said demand over time will determine the price.
Cruise industry outlook strong, top leaders say
Top cruise industry executives are optimistic about the outlook for cruising in 2015 and see travel agents as playing a key role, not only in selling cruises but in getting more people to cruise for the first time.
Getting more first-timers aboard cruise ships is the best opportunity to fuel growth, cruise industry executives told travel agents gathered Wednesday at the Cruise Lines International Association's 11th annual cruise3sixty conference in Fort Lauderdale.
"The biggest opportunity by far that we collectively have in the cruise category is bringing in new-to-cruise people," Adam M. Goldstein, CLIA global chairman, said during remarks about the state of the cruise industry.
Still, for now the industry's prospects appear bright, with a record 23 million people worldwide forecast to take cruises in 2015, up from 22.04 million cruisers last year.
"The growth continues to occur … and people continue to set sail," said Goldstein, who's also president and chief operating officer of Miami-based Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd.
The cruise industry has been growing about 4 percent to 5 percent for most years since 2009, its most difficult year, Goldstein said. That year, 17.8 million people globally took cruises, according to CLIA data.
Cruise3sixty — North America's largest cruise-focused travel agent conference — runs through Sunday at the Greater Fort Lauderdale/Broward County Convention Center. Fort Lauderdale has hosted the event nine times.
This year, cruise3sixty was sold out with about 1,300 travel agents from nearly all 50 states and Canada in attendance and more than 160 exhibitors and 25 CLIA member cruises. It's the largest number of attendees in its history, Nicki E. Grossman, president and CEO of the Greater Fort Lauderdale Convention & Visitors Bureau, said in a welcome address.
During the conference's opening session panel, the heads of cruise lines Norwegian, Carnival, Celebrity and Princess talked about the appeal of Cuba as a possible cruise destination for Americans, industry trends and growth in emerging markets such as Asia.
"We're thinking about it, we're looking at it and we're trying to get prepared, if and when it happens," Celebrity President and CEO Lisa Lutoff-Perlo said, referring to the possible lifting of the general tourism embargo between Cuba and the U.S.
"We all believe there's a lot of pent-up demand because Americans have not been able to travel to Cuba" said Carnival President and CEO Christine Duffy,
Here's a snapshot of other cruise line news announced Wednesday at cruise3sixty:
MSC Cruises: Starting in November, MSC Divina will again sail year-round from Miami to the Caribbean and is expected to remain there at least through March 2017, Rick Sasso, president of MSC Cruises USA, said during a news conference.
From April 2016 through March 2017, Divina will sail on a series of new seven-night Eastern and Western Caribbean cruises, which will be open for booking May 1, Sasso said.
In late 2017, the Italian cruise line's new MSC Seaside cruise ship also will be based in Miami.
Norwegian Cruise Line: In January 2016, Norwegian Sky will offer a more all-inclusive experience on its three- and four-day cruises from Miami to the Bahamas, said Andy Stuart, president and COO of Norwegian.
Beginning with its first sailing next year, Norwegian Sky will provide a range of dining and entertainment options for free, as well as unlimited beer, wine and premium spirits (valued up to $11) at no extra cost. Cruisers also will be able to get unlimited premium beverages when visiting the line's private island in the Bahamas: Great Stirrup Cay.
The move to all-inclusive on Norwegian Sky will "strongly differentiate us from our competitors." Stuart said.
Some restaurants and amenities, such as spa treatments, will still require an extra charge.
"We think this is absolutely a standout change," Stuart said. "The three- and four-day market is an important market for us and is a market we introduce a lot of new people to cruising, and we're excited about the prospects of going all-inclusive."
Stuart said Norwegian did increase the price "a bit" for these all-inclusive Norwegian Sky cruises, but he said demand over time will determine the price.
Scoot versus Spirit: Aircraft design
Spirit and Scoot use similar colors for their planes.
Scoot — the low-cost subsidiary of Singapore Airlines — bills itself as an airline "for the young, the young-at-heart and the value seeking." It started flying in June 2012 and operates flights only in Asia and to Australia.
When Spirit launched its new plane design in September, CEO Ben Baldanza said: "This new livery perfectly matches Spirit Airlines. It's radically different from other airlines, and it's fun, just like we are."
Last May, Spirit also rolled out a series of fun and racy videos to better explain its "bare fare" pricing model to customers who are often surprised by the extra fees they have to pay for things like large carry-on bags and advance seat assignments.
The videos were part of Spirit's "Less Money, More Go" campaign, which also included a revamped, yellow-colored website and a new logo.
Scoot seems to think Spirit may have taken a page or two from its marketing handbook. So to poke fun at Spirit, Wilson taped a video message to the U.S. carrier and sent it a Scoot creative kit with details of its brand identity and templates for re-use.
Scoot also erected a blimp at Spirit's headquarters in Miramar with the message: "Hey Spirit, you can't have our Scootitude #FlyScoot."
"Scootitude" refers to the "fun, cheerful and irreverent attitude" the Asian low-cost carrier has become known for as it strives to change the way people travel long distance in the regions it serves.
"The parallels are obvious for anyone to see — from our signature yellow, to our illustrations, icons, style and tone," Wilson said.
In its next move, the Asian carrier plans to name its new Boeing 787 aircraft "Inspiring Spirit."
"It seems only fair that I return the compliment by naming our newest aircraft after them," Wilson said.
Asked why Scoot was needling Spirit, spokesman Tom Judd said it wanted to respond in a fun way and decided on a friendly campaign to engage with Spirit and the public at the same time.
"The campaign is very much tongue-in-cheek — in the spirit of fun — which is in line with Scoot's friendly, cheerful and cheeky attitude."
Perhaps Spirit, known in the U.S. for its out-of-the-box marketing tactics and penchant for controversial ads, has met its match.
"We think it's fun and the type of provocative stunt we'd pull to get attention," Spirit spokesman Paul Berry said of Scoot's tactics.
"While there are similarities, our brand and concepts were developed independently. We're glad we found our doppelgänger, however, that shares our approach to saving customers money on air travel. High five, Scoot!"
Universal Orlando makes metal detectors permanent at its theme parks
Metal detectors are now permanent fixtures outside three roller coasters at Universal Orlando to deter visitors from taking keys, loose change, phones and selfie sticks onto the rides.
Universal first tested the metal detectors last month as theme parks find themselves grappling with how to keep riders safe from flying objects.
"It's in response to what people are carrying in their pockets these days," Universal Orlando spokesman Tom Schroder said. "All of us have seen the amount of stuff we carry increase with time. All these things are items that … have no place on high-speed rides. It's just too easy for them to come loose."
Schroder said Universal had considered the metal detectors for a long time as a preventive measure.
At Universal Studios Florida, thrill-seekers must pass through the devices at the 17-story Hollywood Rip Ride Rockit. At Universal's Islands of Adventure next door, Dragon Challenge and the Incredible Hulk Roller Coaster both have the machines. Schroder said Universal does not have immediate plans to install them at other rides.
Universal has long encouraged visitors to place their belongings in free lockers stationed at the rides. It does not allow bags and purses on the roller coasters either.
At Rip Ride Rockit, some people who walked through the detectors this week with forbidden phones or keys scrambled out of line to give them to friends or family who weren't riding.
"I can understand regulation," said Terry Reith, 65, of North Fort Myers. His group had to leave behind three phones, a wallet and a money clip. "I'm at Universal; I play by their rules."
Others found the detectors off-putting.
Sixteen-year-old Narissa Libby of Maine called them "weird." Her dad, Dennis, said the detectors were "annoying" and wasn't thrilled about having to surrender a dollar's worth of loose change at the Hulk rather than get out of line to store it. Riders' quarters, dimes and nickels are donated to Give Kids the World.
"They made it sound like they didn't want stuff to fly out of your pockets," Dennis Libby said. "The way the ride was, there was no chance of that happening."
But guests have lost things such as cellphones on the rides — and injuries from loose items have been reported.
In 2011, there were two accidents aboard Universal's Dueling Dragons twin-coaster attraction in which riders were apparently struck by loose objects. In one, a 52-year-old man from Puerto Rico ultimately had to have his eye removed, according to his lawyer. After that, Universal halted its practice of launching the two coasters simultaneously, which allowed vehicles to come within 18 inches of each other.
Universal has stationed extra employees at the roller coasters who staff the detectors and hold metal-detector wands.
Metal detectors have become more common for general security reasons. Travelers have walked through them at airports for years. Fans attending Orlando Magic games go through them. Major League Baseball has begun requiring them for its teams' games.
Six Flags theme parks put up metal detectors, most of them after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, at the main gates.
During Halloween Horror Nights, an adult-oriented nighttime event where alcohol is sold, Universal Orlando has stationed metal detectors at the entrance for years.
"In this post 9-11 age they've become kind of an ugly necessity" in many places, said Jim Hill, an industry blogger and editor of JimHillMedia.com.
But stationing them at rides is unusual. Typically, park employees or signs tell people to stow their loose objects. Some rides have netting underneath to catch falling items.
In 2004, Walt Disney World experimented with metal detectors at its entrance but did not make them permanent.
"Disney World has been very resistant," Hill said. "It doesn't say 'fun.'"
Like the other big parks, Disney has security guards search bags at the gate.
Disney's rides are generally tamer than Universal's and have nets where riders can store loose items.
A tourist sued Disney after receiving a severe bump on the head that knocked him unconscious on Space Mountain in 1998, and his lawsuit said it appeared he had been hit by something that fell from another car. Disney said the man had ignored rules against standing up on the ride. The suit was thrown out. Disney said in court documents other guests had previously reported being struck by flying objects on Space Mountain, though the company said no one had been hospitalized.
SeaWorld Orlando has two roller coasters that turn upside down, with lockers available for rental charges of between $1 and $1.50.
Some people don't want to bother with lockers. Others specifically want to take their phones on rides to shoot videos. And nowadays, "selfie sticks" — rods allowing users to extend their phones 3 feet or so for photos and videos — have become a new issue for theme parks. Disney recently advised its park employees to remind guests they must stow their selfie sticks on rides.
But "people tend to not obey the signs and the … oral instructions," said Jerry Aldrich, owner of Amusement Industry Consulting. "If people won't obey the signs, I guess you take the next step."
(WAV: Okay, how could I not include this?)
Dog's Wild Ride on Tractor Causes Traffic Jam
DON THE BORDER COLLIE HAD A MORE EXCITING MORNING THAN USUAL IN SCOTLAND
(NEWSER) – The old joke postcard about traffic jams in rural Scotland and Ireland pictures sheep cramming narrow country lanes, but this morning it was a different critter to blame altogether: It seems Don the border collie was out with his human, Tom Hamilton, on their sheep farm in Abington, Scotland, when the latter got out of the mini-tractor they were riding in to check on a lamb. Don may have leaned on the tractor's controls, and as the 77-year-old Hamilton tells STV, "I had not put the brake on the tractor and when I turned round I got a fright as the vehicle was careering down the hill, through a gate, and onto the M74 (highway)."
Don's little trip down the hill, in turn, caused a bit of a traffic jam, as Traffic Scotland tweeted, "due to dog taking control of tractor... nope, not joking." But, aside from a tsunami of terrible puns on social media—NPR rounds some up and mentions a "ruff ride" in its headline, while tweeters wondered about "leads" in the "barking mad" story—all ended well: "Don was fine and did not bark during the incident," Hamilton says. The AP, meanwhile, suggests that Don "might want to learn a new trick: applying the brakes."
Southwest Airlines 1Q profit, revenue top expectations
Southwest Airlines on Thursday reported first-quarter earnings of $453 million.
The Dallas-based company said it had profit of 66 cents per share.
The results exceeded Wall Street expectations. The average estimate of 10 analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research was for earnings of 64 cents per share.
The airline posted revenue of $4.41 billion in the period, which also topped Street forecasts. Three analysts surveyed by Zacks expected $4.4 billion.