Low-cost, low-tech Southwest carrier pays big bucks to fly high

Dallas

THE pneumatic tubes and paper tickets have got to go.

In its 45 years of flying, Southwest Airlines Co has been known for its lean operations and vaunted "20-minute turns" - the time between a jet getting to a terminal and pulling away for the next flight. The airline's low-cost, no-frills, single-model fleet and mostly direct service meant Southwest didn't need the tablet-toting mechanics, bag scanners for ramp workers and other technological advances that swept the industry.