Southwest Airlines Starts Service to Denver Airport
Posted on: Wednesday, 4 January 2006, 09:00 CST
By Trebor Banstetter, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Texas, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Texas
Jan. 4--Southwest Airlines returned to Denver on Tuesday after a 20-year absence, launching service and announcing new destinations from its newest city.
Dallas-based Southwest first announced the Denver service in October, surprising many airline industry observers.
The nation's largest discount airline had previously refused to fly to Denver Airport, saying the facility was too expensive.
But a decrease in costs at the airport, coupled with high demand for service to Denver, caused Southwest executives to change their minds, and the first flight, headed for Las Vegas, took off at 7:45 a.m. Tuesday.
"The response from customers and the people of Denver has been simply outstanding," said Ed Stewart, a spokesman.
He said the strong advance bookings to Chicago, Las Vegas and Phoenix spurred Southwest to announce additional nonstop service to Baltimore/Washington and Salt Lake City.
Gary Kelly, the airline's chief executive, and John Hickenlooper, Denver's mayor, toasted a crowd at the airport with an oversized champagne glass as he announced the new destinations.
"It was very festive, in true Southwest style," Stewart said.
The service in Denver is the latest in a series of moves that is making Southwest a powerhouse at some larger airports, which the airline traditionally has shunned in favor of smaller, alternative airports.
In the past year, the airline has begun service in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, both congested hub airports.
Southwest is also taking on a rival discount airline, Frontier Airlines, which has a hub in Denver.
Trebor Banstetter, (817) 390-7064 tbanstetter@star-telegram.com
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Source: Fort Worth Star-Telegram (Fort Worth, Texas)
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