Tuesday, August 6, 2024
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Southwest Airlines expands its booking options by listing fares on Kayak, marking a significant step in the carrier’s ongoing business evolution.
Southwest Airlines has taken another step in its business evolution by making its flights available for booking on Kayak.
“This is a great development for travelers,” Kayak CEO Steve Hafner said in a statement. “We first started showing Southwest in 2022 to Kayak for Business customers. We’re thrilled to expand that relationship to the millions of leisure travelers who use Kayak.”
Southwest Airlines, which long required customers to book directly through its website, began a shift in May by allowing its itineraries to appear on Google Flights. This change comes as the airline faces pressure from investors to strengthen its competitive position against other major U.S. carriers, prompting plans for substantial adjustments in its business strategy.
Beyond expanding fare visibility, Southwest Airlines announced last month that it will end its open seating policy. The airline plans to implement assigned seating and introduce a more segmented cabin, featuring seats with extra legroom. However, the timeline for these changes has not yet been revealed.
Once a Wall Street favorite for its consistent profitability, Southwest Airlines has recently fallen behind some competitors. This lag has drawn pressure from shareholders, including the activist investment firm Elliott Management.
