芝加哥/蒙特利尔，10月8日——据三位熟悉西南航空机队规划的人士透露，在考虑开通长途国际航线之际，西南航空（LUV.N）倾向于选择波音公司（BA.N）的787梦想客机作为其首款宽体客机。
CHICAGO/MONTREAL, Oct 8 - Southwest Airlines (LUV.N) is leaning toward Boeing's (BA.N) 787 Dreamliner as its first widebody jet as it weighs launching long-haul international flights, according to three people familiar with the carrier's fleet planning.
由于相关讨论尚属机密，这些人士均要求匿名。他们同时提醒称，目前尚未作出最终的机型选择决定。最终决定权将由西南航空董事会掌握，该董事会去年专门成立了机队监督委员会，负责统筹管理公司的飞机采购战略。
The people, who declined to be named because the deliberations are private, cautioned that no final aircraft decision has been made. The choice would ultimately rest with Southwest's board, which last year formed a Fleet Oversight Committee to help oversee the company's aircraft fleet acquisition strategy.
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Southwest has not publicly named an aircraft for long-haul flying. In September, Chief Financial Officer Tom Doxey said long-haul international service was among a range of options under consideration but that no decision had been made.
截至目前，西南航空尚未公开宣布用于长途航线的具体机型。今年9月，首席财务官汤姆·多克西曾表示，开通长途国际航线只是众多备选方案之一，目前尚未作出定论。
One of the people said Southwest has contemplated a fleet of dozens of 787s.
其中一位知情人士称，西南航空曾设想采购数十架787客机以组建专属机队。
Southwest has also examined how quickly it could obtain aircraft, including through lessors or the secondary market, according to two of the people. Reuters could not determine which 787 variant it is considering or whether any leasing arrangements have been made.
另据两位人士透露，西南航空还评估了获取飞机的各类途径，包括向租赁公司租用或通过二手市场采购。路透社目前尚无法确认西南航空具体考虑的是787的哪个型号，也不清楚是否已达成任何租赁协议。
Southwest did not directly address questions about the 787, saying in a statement, "We do not have any news forthcoming related to our fleet plans." Boeing referred questions about the fleet plans to the carrier. Airbus (AIR.PA) said it does not comment on discussions with airlines.
针对787相关事宜，西南航空并未直接回应，仅在一份声明中称：“我们目前暂无关于机队规划方面的消息发布。”波音公司则要求将相关问题转交西南航空答复。空中客车公司（AIR.PA）则表示，不会对外评论与航空公司的相关洽谈内容。
The deliberations would take Southwest's overhaul into a new phase. The airline has added assigned seating and extra-legroom seats and announced airport lounges and plans for a premium credit card as it seeks to attract higher-spending travelers.
此次决策若得以实施，将标志着西南航空的转型进入全新阶段。为吸引消费能力更强的旅客群体，该航空公司已开始推行固定座位制并增设加宽座椅，还计划开设机场贵宾室并推出高端信用卡。
A widebody fleet would take Southwest into long-haul international flying and more direct competition with larger US rivals. Southwest has publicly discussed long-haul expansion as part of a broader effort to give customers fewer reasons to book with competitors while strengthening its Rapid Rewards loyalty program and co-branded credit-card business.
引进宽体机队将使西南航空得以涉足长途国际航线，并与美国其他大型航空竞争对手展开正面交锋。西南航空曾公开表示，发展长途航线是其整体战略的一部分——旨在减少顾客选择其他航空公司的理由，同时进一步强化其“Rapid Rewards”常旅客计划及联名信用卡业务。
CEO Bob Jordan has said Southwest does not need a long-haul network comparable with those of Delta Air Lines (DAL.N), United Airlines (UAL.O) or American Airlines (AAL.O). In May, he said 8 to 12 long-haul destinations could cover much of where Southwest customers want to travel.
首席执行官鲍勃·乔丹称，西南航空并不需要打造一个规模能与达美航空、联合航空或美国航空相媲美的长途航线网络。今年5月他透露，8至12个长途目的地便足以满足绝大多数乘客的出行需求。
BOEING VERSUS AIRBUS Southwest currently operates an all-Boeing 737 fleet, but Airbus has been aggressively courting the airline as it evaluates future fleet needs, according to people familiar with the discussions. They said the A321XLR and A330neo could serve its long-haul needs, while the smaller A220 has been pitched for other parts of its network.
波音与空客之争目前西南航空的机队全部由波音737组成。不过据知情人士透露，在评估未来机队需求的过程中，空客一直在积极争取与西南航空合作。这些人士称，空客的A321XLR与A330neo机型可满足其长途运输需求，而体型较小的A220则适合用于其他航线。
Choosing Airbus would require Southwest to diversify its fleet. Those people said the 787 has appeared to hold the stronger position in the discussions.
若选择空客机型，西南航空就必须实现机队多样化。不过上述人士指出，在目前的洽谈中波音787似乎更具优势。
Southwest's pilot union has publicly indicated that more than one path is being examined. Jody Reven, president of the Southwest Airlines Pilots Association, said in a recent union podcast that the company had discussed both a "large aircraft" and a "narrow-body long-haul aircraft" as part of its future plans.
西南航空的飞行员工会也公开表示，公司正在探讨多种发展路径。西南航空飞行员协会主席乔迪·雷文在近期的一期工会播客中称，公司已在未来规划中讨论了引进“大型客机”以及“窄体长途机型”的可能性。
AVAILABILITY COULD SHAPE TIMING The long-haul plan has been discussed on a roughly three-year timetable, one of the people said. But aircraft availability could shape the timing.
飞机供应情况或将影响实施时间据一位知情人士透露，长途航线扩张计划原本预计在约三年内落地，但飞机供应情况可能会改变这一时间表。波音方面表示，787机型在2020年代末前的订单已全部排满。
Boeing has said the 787 is sold out through the end of the decade.
另有消息称，西南航空曾考虑通过飞机租赁公司采购部分梦想客机，这样或许能提前启动相关计划；还有消息称，公司也曾考虑从二手市场采购飞机来组建初期机队。
One of the people said Southwest has explored obtaining some Dreamliners through lessors, potentially allowing an earlier launch. Another said aircraft from the secondary market had been considered for the initial fleet.
引进787宽体机将是一项比扩大西南航空现有737机队运营更为艰巨的任务。西南航空表示，增加新的机型可能需要制定新的维护和培训方案、获得监管机构的批准，并就薪酬和工作规则与工会进行谈判。
Adding a 787 widebody would be a bigger undertaking than expanding Southwest's current 737 operation. Southwest has said adding a new aircraft type could require new maintenance and training programs, regulatory approvals and union negotiations over pay and work rules.
报道：拉杰什·库马尔·辛格（芝加哥）和艾莉森·兰佩特（蒙特利尔）；补充报道：蒂姆·赫弗（巴黎）；编辑：乔·布罗克和马修·刘易斯
Reporting by Rajesh Kumar Singh in Chicago and Allison Lampert in Montreal; Additional reporting by Tim Hepher in Paris; Editing by Joe Brock and Matthew Lewis