DX – Kavin Selva
How will recent changes to Southwest’s business model impact the American airline industry?
First thoughts – My first thoughts here are about the substructure I’ll use for this question. The first subpoint will be a change Southwest has implemented, and the second subpoint will be an effect on the industry. Looking online, many of these changes are related to the pricing of Southwest’s customer service features, and I want to look at how this will affect Southwest’s average consumer. Subsequently, most of my speech will analyze how other airlines may change their own services and pricing due to a new market of consumers becoming available.
Answer – The changes in Southwest’s business model will create new consumers in the airline industry that will change the services and pricing of other companies.
- Competitive Pricing
- One of the most notable changes to Southwest is their removal of the free checked bag policy. This may draw consumers who relied on this service to consider other airlines as Southwest no longer holds a comparative advantage.
- Without many free services, Southwest’s new model aligns them more closely with legacy airlines and places them as a direct competitor. Therefore, airlines such as American, Delta, and United will be forced to reevaluate their own pricing in order to ensure they stay competitive while also looking for new ways to differentiate themselves.
- Narrowing gap between airlines
- Another key change implemented by Southwest Airlines was their removal of free seating.
- Other smaller airlines may consider changing their own seat policies depending upon the success of Southwest. This could potentially bring lower-cost and full-service airlines closer together, causing many to reevaluate their business model.
- Revenue Strategies
- Lastly, Southwest’s decision to begin unbundling their services reflects a wider economic trend of individual charges.
- Depending on the success of Southwest, many airlines are likely to consider implementing new services with their own “upsell strategies” in order to keep up with industry profits. These strategies would involve airlines giving consumers perceived “upgrades” for an additional cost, something that Southwest is likely to make more common.
IX – Sam Kang
Will Donald Trump resume or further cut funding towards Ukraine?
First thoughts – Instinctively, Trump will probably cut aid to Ukraine. Therefore, I really wanted to make my speech unique from that of other speakers. I first planned to use all “Anti-X sentiments” so that structuring would be consistent, and I wanted to focus on good pieces of data and extremely recent information. I also wanted to quote President Trump directly. My speech will analyze Trump’s different sentiments and how they all essentially point towards further cuts to funding for Ukraine.
Answer – Donald Trump will further cut funding towards Ukraine as his presidency continues.
- Anti-Globalist sentiment
- Trump publicly stated “We’re fighting for Main Street, not Wall Street. We have rejected globalism and embraced patriotism.”
- As part of this anti-globalist sentiment, several nations have been hit with sanctions.
- Trump is also attempting to cut spending by decreasing foreign aid, with one of his first executive orders being a 90-day hold on most of the foreign assistance.
- As part of his anti-globalist sentiment, Trump has been decreasing US ties with different nations through public statements, executive orders, and economic measures. During this time, it is unlikely that he would single out Ukraine (even in a war) and increase spending.
- Anti-spending sentiment
- Trump is rapidly cutting spending across the board with the aim that this will help save the economy. Everything, even the military (Trump was very pro-military in his 3 presidential campaigns), is getting spending cuts.
- There was a massive wave of resignations/firings by the State Department after Trump took office as part of his spending cuts and pressure on several government entities to downsize.
- Due to a combination of diplomats with an interest in defending Ukraine leaving along with Trump being unwilling to increase spending back home, it is highly unlikely that Trump would resume aid to Ukraine.
- Anti-Zelenskyy sentiment
- During his recent visit with Ukrainian President Vlodomyr Zelenskyy, Trump put out public statements slandering Zelenskyy for several things including him not thanking the US for its aid and him helping the Democratic party in the recent election (campaigning for them in Pennsylvania). Trump also attacked Zelenskyy, saying that Zelenskyy was “gambling with World War III”.
- Trump, in a speech after this meeting, praised Putin, saying that he would be more “generous” and “easier to deal with” than Zelenskyy.
- Trump has already made significant public remarks on Zelenskyy (most of them negative) and has already stated that Ukraine, because of Zelenskyy, was threatening world peace. In this instance, it is unlikely that Trump will go back and resume funding.