Those of us who are older than dirt (like me) and are fans of Carol Burnett (and who isn't?) will recognize this as the title of a ditty performed by a very young Miss Burnett on the Jack Paar Show in 1957. The erstwhile Secretary of State is also the namesake of Dulles International Airport in Virginia, which will become Southwest's newest destination airport later this year.
Southwest is always looking for opportunities to provide our Positively Outrageous Service to an ever-growing slice of the American "pie," and adding Dulles to our "bakery case" is the right move at the right time. For years, Dulles was primarily the Washington/Baltimore area's longhaul and international airport. However, over the past decade as the population of Northern Virginia has virtually exploded, Dulles has added more and more short- to medium-haul service. The area is home to many large corporations, such as Nextel Communications, Inc. America Online Inc., MCI, and Oracle Corp, which has helped to fuel the surge in traffic at the facility.
Architecture buffs–of which I'm one–will also appreciate Dulles International as one of the premier works of the famous Finnish architect, Eero Saarinen. 
The soaring and spacious terminal design was meant to evoke the feeling of flight. The incredibly beautiful glass-and-concrete facility will be a wonderful addition to the ever-growing flock of Southwest destinations!
Adding a new destination is always an interesting exercise for my workgroup, the Schedule Planning Department. We are always on the lookout for airports that are either under-served and over-priced. Dulles will be a terrific compliment to our large operation at the Baltimore/Washington airport, 45 miles to the northeast of Dulles.
We'll announce destinations, schedules, and fares from Dulles this summer, so stay tuned. Otherwise–welcome to the new Southwest blog, and have an AWESOME day.
Comments
I've been a fan of the airport since it opened, and a Southwest customer as often as I can get away.
I would like to ask permission to use that wonderful photo of the terminal (very early in its career, I would guess).
I want to make an embroidery design from it. If my effort is successful, the design will closely resemble the photo, although I would leave out the cars and most of the detail around the building itself (maybe even the tower.) Its ultimate use would probably be a shirt.
This is not a commercial undertaking; neither the design nor garments made using it would be sold. However, I would like to share the design with friends and family who would enjoy it.
I realize you may not own the rights to the photo; if not, could you please let me know who I should ask.
I will be most appreciative of a reply.
I concur with TusconDave re:SYR. Please consider adding route service to Syracuse, NY. JetBlue has current load factors of 90%! I propose a 2x daily to BWI and Midway, and seasonally to Florida, it seriously makes too much sense not to consider. Syracuse has a cachement of around 2 Million. It is severly underserved for the customer base. The mayor recently announced plans for a new airport authority, and there are plans in place for an 80 million dollar renovation/expansion to the current airport infrastructure. I seriously hope that the good folks at southwest will at least pick up the phone and see if there could be a deal struck to fly out of Hancock Intl. Nothing ventured, nothing gained...
Hey, why can't we get Southwest at XNA Northwest Arkansas Regional? We have to drive 2 hrs to Tulsa to fly your great airline! Help!!
will mci to den ever happen!!!!!!!!
Zachary,
Thank you for your info about Virgin America. I plan on giving your service a try from Bur to OAK.
Hopefully the Bart ride won't be longer than from SFO. Fling into SFO is better than OAK. Would
you have Richard Bransons phone number at Virgin America. I wonder if Virgin America will fly our of BUR
or just LAX? Southwest should expand the cities it serves from BUR. Southwest serve the east coast
and midwest from BUR.
Hi Bill, I'll chime in for more non stops from DTW. Maybe after the new terminal is done?
Phx makes us jealous. Non stops to PHL or BWI would open up the east coast. Probably PHX to LAS every half hour would be good to!
Will, Southwest did serve San Francisco unitl 2001. However, the major weather delays and high costs at the airport caused Southwest to build up its presence at the less congested Oakland until the point that San Francisco wasn't necessary.
If you absolutely must have low fares from SFO to BUR, give Richard Branson a call so he could think about it for Virgin America. Until then, just take Herb's boys to Oakland and take BART into San Francisco. You'll save yourself quite a bit of time and money compared to the Not-So-Friendly Skies of United.
Would LUV to see IAD to SDF and on to DIA.
I think Dullas will make a great addition to Southwest with the population explosion of Northern Virgina. I have alway been
interested in Dullas since the first time I flew from there to Houston in the 70s. Back then, you boarded a mobile lounge that took you across the airport to the aircraft parking ramp. (no planes parked at the terminal). It was on that trip that I caught my first glimpse
of the Concord.
I'm excited about our vinture into Dullas and hope we get flights from BNA
Recently I flew from Burbank,CA to San Francisco,CA. Unfortunatly I had to go United because Southwest flies into Oakland
instead of San Francisco. Southwest should offer Burbank to San Francisco service. It would also be nice if Southwest would add non-stop service from Burbank to Seattle and Chicago Midway.