Southwest plans DIA service to S.F. and Omaha
By Chris Walsh, Rocky Mountain News (Contact)
Tuesday, May 20, 2008
Southwest Airlines will start service to two more cities from Denver, marking its fourth expansion here this year.
The Dallas-based discount carrier said Tuesday it will launch flights from Denver International Airport to both San Francisco and Omaha, starting Sept. 2. The new service involves a total of six additional daily flights.
Southwest appears to be taking full advantage of the recent struggles of United Airlines and Frontier Airlines, which are Denver's two main carriers.
United is reducing domestic capacity at DIA and its other large hubs, while Frontier recently filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. Frontier - which is based in Denver - continues to operate, but its immediate future is unclear.
Southwest has also trimmed its overall growth plans in light of rising fuel costs, but it has chosen Denver as one of the few cities to expand in this year.
Though the company has been growing here since starting service at DIA in 2006, Southwest has announced three separate expansions since Frontier filed for bankruptcy last month.
"We will continue to grow in Denver, as it is a major focal point for us and the market is responding exceptionally well to our service," Southwest Airlines CEO Gary Kelly said in a statement.
The carrier's expansion here will put more pressure on both United and Frontier, likely forcing them to lower fares on the new routes. But Southwest isn't immune to the problems plaguing the industry, and it has been increasing prices along with other airlines.
"They're going after the competition whenever and wherever they can, but (fuel prices) are hitting them hard as well," said Steve Stapleton, a Dallas-based lawyer with Cowles & Thompson, which is representing a creditor in Frontier's bankruptcy case.
Southwest has announced a total of 40 additional flights from Denver and 14 new destinations, which will give it 95 daily departures to 30 markets come fall.
walshc@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-954-2744
Carrier's growth in Denver this year
April 4: Started new daily flights to San Diego
May 10: Launched flights to:
* Los Angeles
* San Jose, Calif.
* St. Louis
* Philadelphia
* Raleigh/ Durham, N.C.
* San Antonio
Also added flights to existing routes:
* Austin, Texas
* Albuquerque
* Chicago
June 4: Plans new nonstops to:
* Portland, Ore.
* Indianapolis
Added capacity to Las Vegas
Aug. 4: Will add flights to:
* Sacramento, Calif.
* Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
* Hollywood, Fla.
* New Orleans
Additional capacity to Phoenix
Aug. 23: Plans to launch an additional daily flight to San Antonio
Sept. 2: Will begin flying to San Francisco and Omaha
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May 21, 2008
7:10 a.m.
Suggest removal
warrengfunk7 writes:
I still think Frontier Airlines and United Airline's low-fare subsidiary, Ted should merge. The combined company would carry the name, United Frontier.