As the country goes about the task of figuring out how to reopen the economy, it’s becoming obvious just how intertwined various lines of business are. Recently, Southwest Airlines CEO Gary Kelly was interviewed by CNBC (via USA Today) and he talked about how his company is doing in the wake of “next to zero” travel levels.

In the interview, Kelly said that simply opening some businesses wouldn’t bring air travel back to life. With just 6 percent of Southwest Airlines seats filled in April, Kelly said that people need a place to go in order for travel to resume. Specifically, Kelly said that people “need to have something to be able to do when they get there. So Disney World needs to open back up.”

Walt Disney World is much more than just the largest single-site employer in the country, it is also a mini-economy of its own, with lots of local and national businesses relying on its reopening. From food delivery to toys to construction jobs, Walt Disney World being closed is impacting a significant amount of businesses that rely on it being open, including Southwest Airlines.

Kelly went on to note that travelers also need to feel safe when traveling, which means the disinfecting of airlines and airports. Of course, there are various meetings taking place every day on both the county and state level that are considering how and when businesses and theme parks in Florida can reopen. For the latest info on guidelines and mandates that the Orange County Task Force is discussing, check out our earlier post that details key takeaways for theme parks, hotels, and restaurants.

As always, keep checking back with us here at BlogMickey.com for the latest Disney Parks news and photos. We’ll continue to bring you news and photos, where possible, through the Disney Parks closure due to Coronavirus (COVID-19) and will resume our normal coverage once the parks reopen to guests on July 11th!