I'm a frequent United Airlines flyer. I pretty much have to be since I live near Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) — a United hub where most of the gates in the airport belong to the legacy carrier.
Southwest cuts 4 cities from its route map, will shrink at Atlanta and Chicago O'Hare
25.04.2024 - 14:07 / thepointsguy.com / Airlines
Southwest Airlines is shrinking its route map.
The carrier will ax four cites from its route map in August and will reduce its presence in two other major airports, the Dallas-based carrier announced Thursday in its quarterly earnings report.
The airports that will lose Southwest service are:
Want more airline-specific news? Sign up for TPG's free biweekly Aviation newsletter.
The move to exit a market is a rare one for Southwest, which historically has made great efforts to avoid leaving a city that it's added to its network.
Southwest's entry into a new city is typically greeted with great fanfare. In fact, the term "Southwest effect" was coined by the U.S. Department of Transportation in a 1990s report looking at the effect the airline had on fares and competition after the carrier entered a new market.
Southwest last exited a market about five years ago, when it ended service to Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) and Mexico City International Airport (MEX). The carrier, which flies to more than 120 airports today, has only left 11 airports during its 50-plus years of operation..
Map watching: The award for 'sexiest new route' of the year goes to ...
In its latest market exits, Southwest pointed to the problems at Boeing – specifically the jetmaker's inability to deliver aircraft on the schedule it had promised.
"The recent news from Boeing regarding further aircraft delivery delays presents significant challenges for both 2024 and 2025," Southwest CEO Bod Jordan said in a statement accompanying the carrier's first-quarter earnings.
"We are reacting and replanning quickly to mitigate the operational and financial impacts while maintaining dependable and reliable flight schedules for our Customers. To improve our financial performance, we have intensified our network optimization efforts to address underperforming markets. … I want to sincerely thank our Employees, the airports, and the communities for all their incredible support over the years."
Southwest said it also plans to "significantly restructure other markets, most notably by implementing capacity reductions in both Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and Chicago O'Hare International Airport."
Loyalty basics: Best ways to earn airline miles
Southwest began flying to Atlanta in 2012 as part of its merger with Atlanta-based AirTran.
Southwest's O'Hare service began just in 2021, bringing the carrier to an airport it had famously avoided for decades in favor of the city's smaller Midway Airport (MDW), which will continue to operate as one of Southwest's biggest and most important bases.
Similarly, Southwest had long avoided Houston's busier Bush Intercontinental (IAH) as it grew the city's secondary Hobby Airport
The website maxtravelz.com is an aggregator of news from open sources. The source is indicated at the beginning and at the end of the announcement. You can send a complaint on the news if you find it unreliable.
Top Autors
Popular Topics
thepointsguy.com
03.05.2024 / 15:15
Delta adds 4 routes to largest-ever Latin America schedule
Delta Air Lines is seemingly convinced that it's going to be a cold and dreary winter.
travelandleisure.com
02.05.2024 / 17:44
Delta Brings Back Popular Nonstop Route to Nigeria From This U.S. Hub
Delta has big route expansion plans this year to Nigeria, Ghana, and beyond, reaffirming its position as “the largest U.S. carrier in Africa.”
afar.com
01.05.2024 / 20:17
Lufthansa’s Long-Awaited Allegris Business Cabin Is Finally Here—and We Got a Sneak Peek
It was a 40-minute flight that airline insiders had been anticipating for seven years: the official launch of Lufthansa’s Allegris, the German flag carrier’s state-of-the-art cabin overhaul that was first announced in 2017 and finally confirmed last year.
travelandleisure.com
26.04.2024 / 17:49
Alaska Airlines Just Added a New Route to Las Vegas
Alaska Airlines will expand its presence in southern California this fall with several new routes from San Diego and Los Angeles.
thepointsguy.com
25.04.2024 / 23:41
Your first look at Lufthansa's Allegris aircraft, with new seating in all cabins and a shock in first class
Seven years after it was first announced, the wait is finally over.
travelandleisure.com
25.04.2024 / 22:55
Is Southwest Doing Away With Its 'Pick-your-seat' Method? The Airline's CEO Hints at Change
Southwest's famous boarding process may be up in the air. On Thursday, after reporting a net loss of $231 million, the Dallas-based airline announced a variety of changes, including the potential for new seating assignments and confirmed the closure of operations at several airports.
insider.com
25.04.2024 / 15:33
Southwest is leaving 4 cities this year as it deals with Boeing's 737 Max crisis — see the list
The ongoing Boeing 737 Max 9 fallout is continuing to burn airlines.
nytimes.com
25.04.2024 / 14:37
Southwest Quits Four Airports in Cost-Cutting Drive
Southwest Airlines is ceasing operations at four airports, and reducing flights from others, in an effort to cut costs after its growth plans were curtailed by fewer than expected plane deliveries from Boeing.
thepointsguy.com
23.04.2024 / 18:09
American debuts special one-time-only flight from Philadelphia to Brazil
Airlines often add special flights for major events, like the Super Bowl or the Consumer Electronics Show.
forbes.com
23.04.2024 / 07:49
The Best Paris Hotels, An Airline For Dogs And More Travel News
With the Paris Olympics a few months away, booking a hotel in the French capital may as well be a competitive sport. Thankfully, the editors of Forbes Travel Guide have eased some of the preparation by revealing the 30 best hotels in Paris. From five-star grande dame properties, to chic boutiques, here’s where to stay in the City of Light.
travelandleisure.com
23.04.2024 / 06:25
Lufthansa’s New Business Class Cabin Will Be Available on These North America Routes Soon
Lufthansa is taking off with its all-new first and business class seats ahead of the busy summer season. On May 1, the first Allegris premium cabins will start flying in the sky on select Lufthansa long-haul routes. The German airline confirmed that its first route with the Allegris product will fly between Munich and Vancouver on an Airbus A350-900 aircraft. As more Airbus A350s get delivered soon to Lufthansa’s fleet, travelers will be able to experience Allegris on the carrier’s routes from Germany to Toronto, Chicago, and Montreal throughout the summer. The new Allegris seat was first announced in 2017, which promised a sleek new experience for passengers sitting up front. Onboard this Airbus A350, there will be three first-class suites equipped with separate bed and dining areas, marking Lufthansa’s first-ever double bed option designed for two passengers. “Every guest has their own understanding of premium, which is why we focus on maximum individuality and exclusivity,” CEO of Lufthansa, Jens Ritter, said in a statement about the new cabin. “The First Class Suite Plus conveys the feeling of privacy and individuality similar to a hotel room – only at an altitude of eleven kilometers.”