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✈️ Southwest Airlines upgrades flight planning and flight management: Case Study of Flightkeys GmbH 5D Tool

  • Writer: R&D Publishing
    R&D Publishing
  • Aug 17
  • 2 min read

Updated: Sep 12

We’re happy to share this informative piece written by Jennifer Ray Paine, Managing Director within Southwest Airlines’ Technology Department, featured in the 2025 Spring Issue of Aircraft IT Operations Magazine, published through The Magazine Production Company.


 The case study examines Southwest Airlines’ transition to the Flightkeys 5D system, highlighting its selection, implementation, and the new features and benefits it brought to the airline’s Network Operations Center. Paine starts by providing a very informative overview of Southwest Airlines from past to present outlining not only key facts and figures of the airline’s progress but also its strategic priorities and the role of the FLIGHTKEYS 5D tool. 


 ✅ The Advantages of FLIGHTKEYS 5D

 Within the case study, Paine outlines 3 main advantages of using the 5D Tool, namely: 

  • Automation of tasks, leading to an increase in dispatcher efficiency and assurance of compliance and safety 

  • New capabilities for dispatchers to utilize to manage the operation 

  • Reduced fuel burn, which decreases cost and increases sustainability


 🛫 Trusted by Industry

 Southwest’s shift to the Flightkeys 5D system was years in the making, driven by both the promise of fuel savings and the risks of relying on outdated technology. Rather than switching everything at once, the rollout began with ETOPS Hawaii flights in June 2024, gradually expanding until the full network of 4,500 daily flights was on Flightkeys by October. This phased approach gave dispatchers time to train, refine processes, and build confidence in the system. Feedback has been overwhelmingly positive—dispatchers praised accurate fuel forecasts, automation, and data access, while pilots found the transition seamless. 


🙏🏽A big thank you to Jennifer Ray Paine for sharing such an insightful article on Southwest Airlines journey with Flightkeys GmbH 5D. Your perspective captures both the challenges and the successes of such a transformational project. And thank you to Southwest Airlines for the continued trust and partnership—we’re proud to support your operations and look forward to many more milestones together.


 📘 Read the full article on Page 58 of the Spring 2025 Issue of the Aircraft IT Operations Magazine (Issue 63: Q1 2025) here:


 🌐 Learn more about FLIGHTKEYS:



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