Today's release of our schedules and fares into our newest airport, Washington Dulles ("IAD"), reminded me that our initial announcement that we would be entering the IAD market raised a lot of questions from Employees and from other Southwest stakeholders. Along with several of my fellow Employees, I visited IAD the evening of and morning after that April 4th announcement to get a closer look at our newest addition. I will share what I found, setting the table with a little personal history.
The IAD Economy
I had last set foot at IAD mid-August 1989, under less than happy circumstances. I was about to be fired from a previous career, but that's a story for another day. What that experience left in my mind, though, was a blurry image of IAD and its market that was almost 17 years out of date. What I saw in early April brought IAD into focus for me.
Although our market research had prepared us for IAD's expansive market growth, the sight of all that development was greater than I had expected. You probably know all the Herndon Dulles Chamber of Commerce factoids, so I'll spare you those, and instead try to paint you a picture. As we drove along the Dulles Access Highway from the Capital Beltway to IAD, we found ourselves in what I can best describe as the capitalist equivalent of the Grand Canyon – mid-rise office complexes housing AOL on one side, Nextel on the other, then Oracle, MCI, Symantec, and so on for practically the entire 13-mile drive. What the Colorado River had done in northern Arizona, the American economy had, in its own way and in slightly less time, done in northern Virginia.
And I came away with one other, lingering impression about IAD. With apologies to The Chairman of the Board (Sinatra, that is, not our own Herb Kelleher), if we can't make it there, we can't make it anywhere.
Comments
Last year it was opened 18 August. Look around that time for Christmas.
Thank you for bringing our family in the Shenandoah Valley VA closer. The drive between I-66 and BWI is often a challenge. by the way, would like to add that assigned seats will not receive my support --- who else but Southwest can turn a plane around in twenty minutes!!!
What a great addition here at Dulles! While I live much closer to National, the drive to Dulles is often worth it for lower fares.
Just so the people not familiar with Northern Virginia know: There are some of us who will drive from our homes in Fairfax, Arlington and Alexandria to BWI if we absolutely cannot get the fares down at DCA/IAD, but there is nothing fun about it. If you live in Northern Virginia--you rely on DCA/IAD and dread the BWI haul, unless it is on weekends when the trip can be done in under an hour from many Northern VA Beltway interchanges.
Southwest--WELCOME TO DULLES!!!!!!!!!!
It's great having you in Louisville, Southwest! Please help us understand your process and methodology behind choosing the next 'lucky' Southwest city. I heard it takes 5 years from the initial idea until the first flight occurs - is that true? Any plans to expand into Eastern Iowa? Thanks!
I'm under the impression that Southwest had to really ask really nicely
to get the gates (two) that they have. I'm under the impression that
you can run about 7-11 flights per gate per day. So a lot of Southwest's future
at an airport has to do with their ability to get gates. Can someone address the process about how gates change hands and or obtained? Can someone address how certain airports are slotted and others aren't and how the affects an airline's plan about whether to go into an airport or not? If you haven't made reservations for these new flights yet, you better, some flights have already been booked heavily that only two fare classes are left. I also noticed that the New York based low-cost carrier did not change their prices on connections that they fly into Dulles from other Southwest cities.
Also I have a question I am a new one to southwest but neaver have flown them yet (Because to long of a drive to BWI) and Question is since SWA going to start dulles 5 October is how soon after grand opening can we start seeing new city flights in and out of dulles? And how big of and operation are they planning at dulles ( as big as bwi?) and since they are here now at dulles is this and short term thing like independance air was at dulles or are they here at dulles to STAY!?
Southwest NEEDS TO do N/S (non stop) from IAD to CA LA AND SAN DIEGO !!. TO COMPETE with ual they do 3 daily now to san diego this route for them is HOT!
Southwest, Listen up! You need to add IAD-LAX (nonstop) to the IAD schedule! Pronto! LAX needs it ! (and you!) on this route......
HOORAY! We are SO EXCITED that you are starting to service to IAD!
I can't wait!
BWI and IAD may be close in distance, but they are very far apart in drive time. SW also flies to both Burbank and LAX. I imagine that DCA was not considered because of perimeter restrictions (1250 miles).
"If you can make it there, you can make it anywhere." When is SW going to consider a New York area destination? Islip does not count. I can understand why SW would want to avoid Newark. LaGuardia has perimeter restrictions (1500 miles). I think White Plains would be an excellent addition for SW.
I know this is off-topic. But when will the flight schedules for Christmas be on the web site? I'm just getting excited about my holiday plans. I would also love to see a few more flights in and out of Pittsburgh.