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Jun 2021
19m 54s

Encore: Southwest vs American Airlines |...

Wondery
About this episode
The computer age is on the horizon, and American Airlines has a secret weapon: SABRE. Sure, the airline is top of the heap under the current pen-and-paper reservation system — the one where travel agents use a massive phonebook to look up flights, then call individual airlines to book a ticket. But they’re tired of playing phone tag. The American Society of ... Show More
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Jul 2021
Encore: Southwest vs American Airlines | The Darling of Deregulation | 4
As deregulation dawns, Southwest Airlines’ founder and CEO are locked in a power struggle. In the middle is Herb Kelleher, Southwest’s corporate attorney. And after 18 months serving as a punching bag for the company’s top brass, he’s had enough. But as Southwest deals with a suc ... Show More
23m 56s
Jul 2021
Encore: Southwest vs American Airlines | The Cult of Herb | 5
Everyone loves Herb Kelleher—even FAA regulators. The onetime corporate counsel-turned-CEO is coming into his own at the helm of Southwest. But his latest challenge is coming up with a way to skirt the FAA’s pesky “slot” system, designed to limit air traffic by rationing takeoffs ... Show More
23m 20s
Jul 2021
Encore: Southwest vs American Airlines | Free LUV | 6
Thanks to deregulation, no-frills knock offs of Southwest take to the skies like crows. About 120 airlines have gone out of business or filed for bankruptcy since the industry was deregulated in 1978.American’s SABRE system optimizes...everything. It manages ticket pricing so fli ... Show More
24m 53s
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