MORE GROWTH in 2010--DENVER SCORES AGAIN!

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MORE GROWTH in 2010--DENVER SCORES AGAIN!

Thu, 10/22/2009 - 08:58 — Bill Owen

See.....didn't I tell you to keep watching for more surprises here on "Nuts About Southwest"?

Today we're announcing more growth for our burgeoning Denver franchise, so I guess you could say that this is a (ahem) "Denver Post." Starting on March 14th, we'll add new nonstop service in five markets: Denver-Hartford, Denver-Boise, Denver-Ontario, Denver-Detroit, and Denver-Washington/Dulles. Each market will have one daily nonstop, roundtrip flight. With this new service, Southwest will have 120 weekday departures from Denver International Airport.

And in true informercial style....."But Wait! There's More!" Beginning in May of next year, we're adding more service in seven other markets from Denver: Sacramento (for a total of three roundtrips), Tulsa (for a total of three), New Orleans (going to two), Portland (total of three), Oakland (for a total of four), Baltimore/Washington (also increasing to four), and Seattle (total of three). This brings us to 127 weekday departures from Denver, making DEN our seventh-biggest Station--ahead of such airports as Los Angeles, Oakland, Orlando...and gaining on our first two airports: Dallas and Houston!

And not to leave Saturdays out...on Saturdays in the May-August 2010 schedule we're introducing nonstop, roundtrip service between Denver and New York-LaGuardia! We're able to add this new service to slot-restricted LaGuardia because slots are not as restricted on Saturdays.

Southwest has never grown an operation as fast as we've grown Denver. And, I can absolutely attest to that first-hand: recently, I made connections at Denver flying between Dallas and Minneapolis/St. Paul, and what I saw was a stark contrast to what I saw just before Southwest returned to the Denver market. Back then, Concourse C was all but a ghost town. Gate areas were lifeless. Podiums were unmanned. Concessions had very little business. The moving sidewalks had (literally) nobody on them.

Contrast that with what I saw weekend before last: gate areas full of typically happy, animated Southwest Customers. Podiums staffed with Southwest Employees providing Positively Outrageous Service. Concessions full to overflowing with patrons. Moving sidewalks full of people (including the ubiquitous little kid running backwards on them...never fails...). Southwest has literally brought Concourse C to life with our soon-to-be 127 flights! With the new service next May, we'll be up to 12 gates on Concourse C--a huge increase from just two gates and 13 departures when we started in 2006. We're also busy putting a distinctly Denver stamp on our DEN operation by hiring many local residents. In fact, our headcount at DEN is up to just shy of 400 Employees, including many Colorado natives!

It's been a busy two days here in Dallas telling you guys about new, planned service in 2010, so I may take a day off--but please comment, as I'll be watching and answering! Have a great weekend, everyone!

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Comments

So with all the new service announced yesterday and today's DEN announcement...what's the plan for fleet growth, if any, next year?

Dan Webb — Thu, 10/22/2009 - 09:38

So what's the plan for next year then? With the DEN additions on top of PFN and STL, will there be fleet growth in 2010?

Dan Webb — Thu, 10/22/2009 - 10:05

With Frontier's commitment to Colorado now uncertain after the Republic buyout, LUV to Southwest for further investing in Denver! If you can't buy 'em, beat 'em!

Anonymous — Thu, 10/22/2009 - 10:07

We need you to fly to/from Wichita, KS!!!

Anonymous — Thu, 10/22/2009 - 11:34

Bill, Great Job in Denver!
Now just add Denver to Atlanta and away you go. Denver is the place for great service and the public thanks Southwest for recognizing it.

wwelifer — Thu, 10/22/2009 - 11:37

HEY THANKS FORE THE NEW NON-STOP FROM DULLES TO DENVER. THIS IS THE BEST NEWS I HAVE SEEN FOR US HERE IN IAD. THANKS AGAIN!!

Anonymous — Thu, 10/22/2009 - 11:58

This is great news. Hopefully soon we will also see SWA flying the DEN - ATL route??

Denver flyer — Thu, 10/22/2009 - 12:36

You can see already what Republic is doing with trying to move jobs from Denver. The writing is on the wall. Once again, Thank you Southwest Airlines for stepping in and doing whats right. Loyalty should go to Southwest. By the way Bill, Why isn't there more service from Washington Dulles?

WWELIFER — Thu, 10/22/2009 - 13:51

Washington Dulles is back on the map. now all we need is a BOS and a LGA and we will be in buisness. Thanks.

Anonymous — Thu, 10/22/2009 - 14:20

I heard on the radio that Southwest is having a job fair in Denver on Oct. 27, but I didn't get the details. I'd love to work for Southwest. Would you post the hours and location for the job fair, please?

tammy — Thu, 10/22/2009 - 14:35

Once again Bill, you amaze me at all these new additions!

DEN is amazing for SWA and whatnot to see how fast and rapidly we are growing at DEN.

Very excited to see the new destinations out of DEN and the daily flights just keep on rising!

Alex

Alex Trude — Thu, 10/22/2009 - 14:42

Anonymous — Thu, 10/22/2009 - 15:17

Good afternoon, everyone! A few reponses to your coments.

Dan Webb — Thu, 10/22/2009 - 09:38 and 10:05--Dan, at this point it looks as if any fleet growth will be minimal. We (I!) are longing for the days of taking 25+ new 737's a year!

tammy — Thu, 10/22/2009 - 14:35--Tammy, sure--the job fair will be on Tuesday, Oct. 27 at the Doubletree Hotel at 3203 Quebec from 7:00 a.m to 7:00 p.m. (or, as we in the airline biz like to say, from 0700 to 1900 :) ). Come join our mission!

And Alex--you're welcome! I've never seen anything like our growth in Denver. Not even LAX during the "Shuttle war" days grew this fast. And I was serious about how stark the difference is inside Concourse C--it's amazing!

Have a wonderful afternoon, you guys!

Bill

Bill Owen — Thu, 10/22/2009 - 15:41

Let's definitely get ATL and CLT on the route map but don't just serve them from Denver. They've had enough. Let's spread the wealth a little more. DEN is starting to get a little cocky. It's time to let them cool off for a little while and heat up more in some of your other markets.

Anonymous — Thu, 10/22/2009 - 15:57

THANK YOU for providing another option for travelers looking to fly nonstop between Denver and New England!!!

In 2007 Frontier opened a Hartford-Denver nonstop, and it was amazing... but tragically short-lived. There were plenty of people flying the route -- every flight I flew, including the red-eye from Denver to Hartford, was always full to capacity -- but apparently that wasn't enough. Now there's a wonderful new option for those who don't want to deal with the hassles of Logan, JFK, and Laguardia -- or layovers, or lots of obnoxious fees! Three cheers for Southwest -- hip hip huzzah! =)

Rae — Thu, 10/22/2009 - 16:49

why no pvd to den????

pvd flier — Thu, 10/22/2009 - 18:55

I think flights should be added to PWM

Anonymous — Thu, 10/22/2009 - 20:41

can we have more nonstop service from dulles like lax and san diego bill!!!!!!!!!!!!

Anonymous — Thu, 10/22/2009 - 21:28

are there any plans for nonstop from stl to the new pfn. i know of many people that vacation down there and are excited southwest is flying there. it would be great to be there in a hour and a half instead of the 12 hour drive . thank you in advance for your response bill. thanks again, dave

vettman — Thu, 10/22/2009 - 21:52

COME TO GREENVILLE/SPARTANBURG.

Jacob — Fri, 10/23/2009 - 01:12

COME TO GREENVILLE/SPARTANBURG. We have over 1 million people in the metro area and are located between ATL and CLT.

Jacob — Fri, 10/23/2009 - 01:16

Now we need CLE to Denver.. Gives us a route other thanMDW or STL to connect in..

Anonymous — Fri, 10/23/2009 - 12:10

I live in St. Louis, but saw the job fair on your website. I have been checking and rechecking to look for opportunities with Southwest. I'm booked (with Southwest of course) and will see you there.

Jill — Fri, 10/23/2009 - 12:59

Does Southwest publish its list of largest stations anywhere?

Anonymous — Fri, 10/23/2009 - 14:36

Anonymous — Fri, 10/23/2009 - 14:36--

How about Southwest Airlines’ Top Ten Airports: (as of July 16, 2009)? Check them out here: http://www.southwest.com/about_swa/press/factsheet.html#Top%20Ten%20Airp...

Lindsey Reynolds — Fri, 10/23/2009 - 15:06

Republic is having financial problems and is expected to sell Frontier soon and Southwest Airlines will be Denver's savior. The writing was on the wall before Frontier was bought by Republic. Gary Kelly and his team know, or I should say knew, exactly what they were doing.
Anonymous — Thu, 10/22/2009 - 15:17
----------------------------------------------
This couldn't be farther from the truth. Frontier's integration is going fine and they continue to have good financial results even after emerging from bankruptcy. Please stop making such bitter statements and hurling out erroneous facts in an effort to cut down other carriers to make yours look better. Southwest needs to succeed in Denver on its own two feet and shouldn't have to put down or put out of business Frontier or United(Which are fine companies by the way who are the only ones of the three making money) to do that. Win the customers because they look at you without any arm twisting on your part and decide that they want to fly you. Also realize that one of the three airlines doesn't have to disappear for that to happen.

Anonymous — Fri, 10/23/2009 - 17:26

I can't say how happy I am about IAD-DEN flights. I think this is a great move by Southwest. IAD-DEN is currently completely controlled by United, not anymore. I think Southwest would do well with a couple DEN, but I'll take the one. Thank you very much!!!!!

epopik — Sat, 10/24/2009 - 06:28

Wow. For an airline that's currently not really growing their fleet you sure making a lot happen.

AZDave — Sat, 10/24/2009 - 11:15

That is great that you are expanding, how about coming to South Carolina so those of us living here who luv to fly southwest can continue to use your services?

Thanks

Anonymous — Sun, 10/25/2009 - 10:14

I think that it is great the SW is growing the way it is, and taking most of the services that Frontier had to Biose, Hartford, Detroit etc. I was just wonder why, if they are a Texas airlines, do they not have a Denver-El Paso direct flight. I know I would be very happy about this and so would all the people that used to fly with me on Frontier.

Anonymous — Mon, 10/26/2009 - 13:24

Bill-
Are BNA-SEA and BNA-OAK seasonal reductions again this time when they go away or are they permanent this time?? Since you're so on again, off again with these particular routes lately I don't know what to expect with them anymore. If they are seasonal, what are their seasons so I can be a little more predictable in my booking habits? Also, if they are seasonal do you continue to offer same plane service when they are away or do we have to make connections? If you could answer some or all of these things for me I would really appreciate it. Sorry for nudging an old thread but this is the only way I know post a question to you. Keep up the good work and thanks for St. Louis and Panama City!

P.S.: Is Ontario seasonal as well or is it just gone and how about same plane service on that route? I travel alot :)

Nashville — Fri, 11/06/2009 - 14:24

I'm glad that you recognized the New England market also. I someone previously stated Frontier had an overnight flight that was always packed and the stopped. Glad to see your filling that gap...Good Job!

VPC — Wed, 11/11/2009 - 16:31

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