It may appear that factors outside of (and/or in addition to) an expanding presence throughout the US, Mexico and the Caribbean may have driven Southwest’s decision to acquire AirTran Airlines.

Based on the recent Airline Quality Ratings results (a research study on airline performance and quality funded by Purdue University and Wichita State University), AirTran and Southwest each hold extremely high overall rankings among the nation’s leading 18 airlines. Airlines are reviewed annually on on-time performance, baggage handling, customer complaints and involuntary denied boarding.

An article from Wichita State University summarized the results and emphasized the improved performance of most major airlines from 2009 to 2010. Rankings showed that AirTran maintained its overall second place ranking from 2009 to 2010. Southwest improved its position in 2010, moving up one spot into the #5 position. Given this combination, Southwest should be able to leverage the ways that AirTran has succeeded in quality and performance, and hopefully be able to apply this knowledge seamlessly to its no-frill approach, thus improving its ranking even more.

The article noted AirTran’s best baggage handling rate (1.67 mishandled bags per 1,000 passengers) and Southwest’s lowest consumer complaint rate (0.21 per 100,000 passengers), demonstrating the strength of each airline. It will be interesting to see how Southwest maximizes the quality and performance procedures that have placed AirTran near the top of the pack.

Do you think the combination of the two airlines can create a powerhouse of quality and performance (compared to other airlines of a similar size)?

Will the competition even be able to match the performance and quality of a “new” Southwest?

Or do you think that the combination of the two could negatively affect their quality and performance in the future?

To learn more, take a look at this Wichita State University article.

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