For the first time in years, Southwest Airlines doesn’t anticipate turning an annual profit. Over the past several years, the Dallas-based airline has enjoyed success and growth even as other carriers seemed to collapse. However, with fuel prices continuing to rise and a potential recession looming, Southwest CEO Gary Kelly knows 2008 is going to be a challenging year.

Starting in 2007, Southwest Airlines started an aggressive marketing campaign directed towards business travelers, hoping the added profit would help to counteract rising fuel expenditures. One of the major directives of the campaign was introducing Southwest Airlines’ Business Select Airfare, which gives business travelers the first shot at seat selection. Southwest Airlines’ new boarding process also ensures that business travelers won’t have to stake their claim to a decent seat by plopping down on the floor an hour before take-off.

Keep reading to get Gary Kelly’s perspective on business travel in the upcoming year…