It's Media Day at Southwest's Galactic Headquarters here in Dallas, and we have a LOT of news to share. 2010's first new city....expansion at a long-time Southwest destination....once again Southwest is getting creative to respond to demand for our service!
The biggest news of the day is that Southwest intends to begin service at the brand-new International Airport being built near Panama City, Florida next May. We're bringing low fares and GREAT service to the land of sugar-white-sand beaches, incredibly gentle blue waters, and an amazing variety of visitor accommodations just in time for vacation season, Summer, 2010! Up until Southwest's arrival, this part of Northwest Florida has been plagued by high fares and a lack of full-sized airline service. We're going to change that. Southwest's entry into the Panama City market will make it possible for all of America to experience the incredible beauty of Northwest Florida!
While we're not ready to announce specific service plans just yet (we'll announce all the specifics this December, so stay tuned!), the "how" of our entry into the Florida Panhandle is as interesting as the "why." For the first time ever, we've formed a strategic alliance with a corporate partner to enable Southwest to bring a new airport onto our network. The corporate ally in this venture is our friends at the St. Joe Corporation, with whom we've been talking for over a decade. Even if the St. Joe name isn't familiar, trust me, you know them. They are the largest landowner in the State of Florida, owning over a 600,000 acres of prime Florida Panhandle woodlands and beaches. They're also developing world-class resort communities in the area including the award-winning, jaw-droppingly-beautiful "Watercolor" complex.
Lots of other local groups are also actively helping Northwest Florida launch its new international airport. Both the Bay County Tourism Development Council and the South Walton Tourism Development Council have stepped up to the plate to make the new airport a success, as has Coastal Vision 3000. If you've never visited the Panama City area, believe me, you have an incredible treat in store. I'm already planning my family's vacation there next summer (whale watchers, take note....*gr*)!
In other big news about our May 2010 schedule, today Gary announced our intent to grow our St. Louis operation by adding new nonstop service in six markets, and additional flights in two others. We'll be adding two new nonstop, roundtrip flights each weekday between St. Louis and both Los Angeles and Nashville; and one daily roundtrip between St. Louis and New Orleans; Raleigh/Durham; Seattle; and San Diego. (Sidebar to all of you nascent "schedule geeks" out there--St. Louis-Nashville service may be the single most frequently requested new market between existing Southwest airports during my 16 years in Schedule Planning. So, to all of you that have asked for this service through the years, this one's for you--NOW KINDLY GO BUY A TICKET!!!!)
These additions come on the heels of our other recent St. Louis announcement that we're adding new nonstop service between Lambert and both Boston and Minneapolis/St. Paul this coming January. In fact, we're so pumped about our growth in St. Louis that we'll add a third St. Louis-Minneapolis/St. Paul flight with all of the other new service in May. All told, by next may, we plan to be operating 83 weekday departures from our gates in Lambert-St. Louis International's East Terminal (which is the newest and most modern terminal at Lambert!).
Again, all of this awesome new service in St. Louis and Panama City will begin next May, and will be available for sale this December. But don't wait until December to check out this blog again--you never know what other surprises we've got in store for you!
Comments
When is SWA coming to Pensacola Regional?
Now if SWA would only come to Charlotte, North Carolina!!!!!!
There is a huge need to be able to fly from CLT to DFW!!!!!
PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, I'm begging you! Please come to Charlotte, NC! We are the biggest Southwest Airlines fans, and we are trapped paying ridiculous high prices with US Air's monopoly! Please work out whatever you need to work out with the city for the sake of the residents of Charlotte. You would have more business than you could handle, and we would be so grateful!
A loyal customer who has to drive to Raleigh to fly Southwest!!!
Charlotte, NC should be your next location
Please come to Charlotte asap!! I will buy at least 12 roundtrip tix per year!!
So dissapointed that Southwest didn't choose Pensacola! It's a better location from a business support and sustainability standpoint, since so many business professionals like myself choose to live here, but travel elsewhere for our work week. I travel at least 90% of my time, work out of my home the remainder, and have to travel Delta and other airlines I'm not thrilled about to support that travel. I have a number of free tickets due to my Southwest card and have to drive 4 hrs+ to take advantage of them. With the add to Panama City I will likely go there instead of New Orleans, but I think Pensacola would have been a much smarter choice. This is an active business, military and tourist destination. Panama City cannot make the same claim. Please consider Pensacola in the future!
Quote:
>We could really use some SWA relief in Charlotte NC.
>I'm positive you would be greeted in Charlotte as the great liberators.
I second that! Free us from the tyranny of US Airways!
We could really use some SWA relief in Charlotte NC. I'm positive you would be greeted in Charlotte as the great liberators.
Charleston, SC would be a fantastic destination for SWA! On the "where we fly" map on your website, there is a large, gaping hole surrounding the lowcountry - and with AirTran pulling out of Charleston, the time is ripe for a low-cost carrier! Charleston consistently wins Top Destination awards from travel industry experts and publications, and tourists would go nuts over increased opportunities to visit Charleston by flying Soutwest. PHL-CHS would be an insanely popular route, as would BOS-CHS, MDW-CHS, DAL-CHS, MAF-CHS, and SAN-CHS. Please come to Charleston, SC!
I'm glad SWA has considered St. Louis. The St. Louis market is a strong base and has maintained several airlines in years past by being loyal customers. AA is in financial trouble and they are trying to survive; time will tell what the tongue won't. In the meantime we welcome Southwest to our area. With 2.8 million people in our metropolitan area we can sustain the added flights and definitely welcome more!!! I think St. Louis serves as a perfect HUB to the nation at large. We are centrally located even to the point that Air China is close to closing a deal with State officials to make St. Louis it's North American Air Cargo HUB. The deal is not sealed but it's beyond 50% complete and looks very favorable. We have a new billion dollar runway that rarely gets used due to American bailing out, and an entire B concourse terminal that has been "raped" by American Airlines. Aeromexico has added new service as well to St. Louis which is a good thing. St. Louis will bounce back and I'm glad Southwest sees our potential.