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SOUTHWEST AIRLINES ANNOUNCES INTENT TO SERVE SOUTH CAROLINA

cday
Frequent Flyer C
Carrier Selects Charleston and Greenville-Spartanburg--No Subsidies Required

 

May 11, 2010--Southwest Airlines today announced its intent to serve the state of South Carolina—without subsidies—through the cities of Charleston (CHS) and Greenville-Spartanburg (GSP) in 2011. Southwest will release details regarding start dates, destinations and fares, and number of departures at a later date.  The airline’s service will not be dependent on pending legislation to provide air service subsidies. For more information about Southwest Airlines, click here.

 

“We look forward to serving the Palmetto State with Southwest Airlines’ unique brand of genuine hospitality, great value, a robust and reliable flight network, and our terrific Employees who deliver excellent Customer Service,” said Dave Ridley, Southwest’s senior vice president of marketing and revenue management.

 

Southwest reported a profitable start to the year with its First Quarter 2010 financial results last month. At that time, Southwest said overall demand for its Low Fares and high quality Customer Service remained strong, resulting in a record first quarter performance for load factor, passenger yield, operating unit revenue, and passenger revenues.  Southwest attributed the notable performance to its network optimization and revenue management efforts, which also have allowed it to grow in destinations without growing its fleet of Boeing 737 aircraft. The carrier intends to continue that growth strategy in 2011, keeping its capacity relatively flat with 2010.

 

 

 

After 38 years of service, Southwest Airlines, the nation’s leading low-fare carrier where bags fly free, continues to stand above other airlines—offering a reliable product with exemplary Customer Service. Southwest Airlines is the most productive airline in the sky and offers Customers a comfortable traveling experience with all premium leather seats and plenty of legroom. Southwest Airlines (NYSE: LUV) currently serves 68 cities in 35 states and is the largest U.S. carrier, based on domestic passengers carried. Based in Dallas, Southwest currently operates more than 3,200 flights a day and has more than 35,000 Employees systemwide.

 

www.southwest.com

1,329 Comments
Barbara_Rabhan
Explorer C
Great your are coming to SC. Can you please come to Savannah Would love you to have service from here to Baltimore and out to the Las Vegas and Seattle
Larry4
Explorer C
Great....Now get into Savannah. Fares are outrages in both cities.
Larry4
Explorer C
Great....Now get into Savannah. Fares are outrages in both cities.
Anonymous4162
Explorer C
I CANT WAIT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I Love Southwest!!! I am flying from PHL to CHS next week and have to deal with another over-prices airline. Uuuugggggh! Thank goodness Southwest will be there in the near future.
walter_Ray
Explorer C
Southwest please come to greensboro,nc
Brad6
Explorer C
Southwest should consider Des Moines, IA! It's a perfect mid-sized airport for SWA, and we won't have to keep driving to Omaha or Kansas City to fly! Show Iowa some LUV!
Frank_Rogers
Explorer C
This is great news! My family and I travel from Nashville, TN to South Carolina (myrtle beach area) 5 or 6 times every year. We fly Southwest everywhere we can and have always hated that we can't fly Southwest to SC. Now we can - thank you!!!!
Texan_in_SC
Explorer C
We are so pleased to hear SWA is coming to GSP. We moved here from Texas three years ago and have been very frustrated by the high prices from GSP and having to drive to Charlotte or Atlanta. We even drove the 5-1/2 hours to RDU to get on SWA! Thanks for helping us out.
Anonymous11111
Explorer C
YES! Sooooo glad you are coming to CHS!
Anonymous473
Explorer C
THANK YOU!!! THANK YOU!!! We are so excited as we have family there and WE LOVE SOUTHWEST!!!
Katie8
Explorer C
Thanks! We have family near GSP and couldn't stand flying on other airlines to visit. Now you need to stop leasing those gates you own in CLT and start flying there--that will really cause a stir and a major drop in airline fares for that region.
Gail6
Explorer C
YEA! I fly to Greenville quite often to visit my grandchildren. I count the days until your service begins. Thanks Southwest!!!
That_guy_who_co
Explorer C
Vegas, baby!
Dave_C__from_Ca
Explorer C
Very exciting news about CHS! Lots of friends there and go there frequently (on another carrier) for business. Yay!
Anonymous3541
Explorer C
Please, please, please give us a direct from Nashville to Charleston!
Patti_Borghetti
Explorer C
Christmas has come early for us with your announcement that SWA will be flying to Greenville, SC. We have family there and it is next to impossible to get there now without dedicating an entire day in the air. Thanks so much for this exciting news. We just luv, LUV......patti and frank from Reno, Nv.
jennifer_goodma
Explorer C
I am so excited to hear that Southwest will be flying to South Carolina. We live in Nashville, TN and have to change planes in either Atlanta or Charlotte just to get there. PLEASE put in a non-stop flight from Nashville to Charleston. You will not be sorry. Thank you so much!!! Sincerely, Jennifer Goodman
Agregg
Explorer C
Great you just made getting back home to Connecticut even better from Charleston,SC. I would prefer a flight into New Haven, Ct. but Hartford will do. Welcome to Charleston/Summerville,SC.
Jo_Rorie
Explorer C
So excited to here this news!!!!! Waited for years for this. Try to go into Columbia too PLEASE.
lena_carpenter
Explorer C
charleston is my favorite city in the whole world...thank you, southwest 😉
anniet
Explorer C
Yippee! This is the best news since PCB!
Anonymous3775
Explorer C
Please include a non-stop flight from Birmingham, AL to Charleston. The long car ride to see our new grandson is grueling. We are so excited at this prospect!!!!!
Dianne_B
Explorer C
Would love for you to fly from Islip to MYR or Islip to Charleston! Large contingent of golfers in LI and former New Yorkers who live in Myrtle Beach/Pawley's Island area!
Mary_T
Explorer C
Do you know yet if GSP will provide service either to Lubbock, TX or Jacksonville, FL? I'm so glad you're not going to be too far from Western North Carolina. Love Southwest and haven't been able to fly it in the4 years I've lived here. THANK YOU!!!
Anne15
Explorer C
Wish you were starting this fall! Our annual reunion trip just got scheduled for Charleston! I'll definitely go again as soon as your flights begin!
Jim_Baum
Explorer C
This great news for our division. We fly in and out of Charleston with 25 techs on a weekly basis. I am the Director of this division and will fly more often for sure. I realize the enormous benefit of using Southwest for all our travel needs. I Fly SWA always. Thanks for the good news.
smijam
Explorer C
I have been a SWA flyer for years. I lived in California for years and used the service for leisure and business. I now live in NC near CLT and drive to RDU to use SWA. GSP will be good only 90 min vs 2:30 hrs to RDU. Service from CLT would be great.
Kyle21
Explorer C
Finally, Now I don't have to drive from Jacksonville or Raleigh-or heaven forbid; Fly Delta! Ill always support you SWA
Katharine
Explorer C
SO HAPPY!! We fly from SFO multiple times a year to visit family near Myrtle Beach. CHS is fine -- MYR would be EVEN BETTER! Thank you for at least giving us an option!
JD
Explorer C
Thank You SWA! We travel from Birmingham to Charleston at least once a year on vacation. Charleston is our favorite vacation spot. Please consider a direct flight from Birmingham to Charleston. BHM loves SWA!
Kristi_Lowry
Explorer C
I'm ready to book my flights from South Carolina to see my family in Boise, Las Vegas, and San Diego!!! The drive to Raleigh to catch a SW flight is a pain, but when we travel as a family of 4, it still saves us tons of money over flying out of Columbia (ridiculously high fares) Can't wait to see the flight schedules from CHS and/or GSP.... So excited Kristi
Anonymous1717
Explorer C
Am I thrilled that Southwest is coming to Charleston? Absolutely !! Am I skeptical that it will last? YES!. After all the hoopla about our most recent low cost carrier, in the long run Charleston failed to support Air Tran. We can only hope that things will be different this time around. We'll see.
Sophie
Explorer C
YAY!! thanks sooo much now i can go see my grandparents soo much easier and cheaper!! no more flying us air!!! i want to be on the 1st flight!! I LUV U GUYS!!!
Anonymous2201
Explorer C
I ve noticed United and Fronteir have nonstop Denver service from SDF and it would be nice if you guys would do that. SOUTHWEST AIRLINES IS THE GREATEST!!!!!!!!!!!
Anonymous319
Explorer C
Atlanta next!
Terry10
Explorer C
THANK YOU!!! SOUTHWEST ROCKS! THIS IS GOING TO BE FANTASTIC! THE SOONER THE BETTER!
Meredith2
Explorer C
YEEEEAAAAHHHHH!!!!! My family is all in Greenville--SOUTHWEST SAVE US FROM US AIRWAYS!!!!
Terence
Explorer C
This is great news. I'm with Shirley--destination is Hendersonville, NC but GSP is a good start. I live in TX so a connection thru Nashville would be great! Can't wait to get details.
Anonymous2638
Explorer C
I agree with several posts....please come to NC too. Specifcally Charlotte! Flights out of Charlotte are so expensive and the service is terrible. I want to support a company that provides great customer service while still making a profit! That's what owning a buisness is SUPPOSED to be about!
Anonymous3332
Explorer C
Can we do Atlanta too?
sc_scuba
Explorer C
Southwest will be fantastic for GSP, and for dive trips to Florida!
Patty111
Explorer C
This is such great news to hear that Southwest will be flying from B'ham to Charleston in the near future. I live near B'ham and have elderly parents in Charleston that need me to come fairly often now to check on them. It has always been SO expensive to fly out of B'ham before to Charleston. I have not been able to afford it very often. Now I have hopes of being able to get to Charleston in a more timely and less costly manner. Thank you!!
Anonymous1133
Explorer C
Des Moines! Fly Here! FLYHERE AS FAST AS YOU CAN!
Mr_G_
Explorer C
Hey give the CEO a thumbs up for having SW hit the Greenville airport! I hope SW will fly from West Palm beach, FL or Ft lauderdale, FL to the Greenville area! And if u need a RAMP AGENT at either place.......I am ur man. WOULD BE AWESOME TO WORK FOR SW AIRLINES ! GO SW!!!!!!!! 🙂
Kim31
Explorer C
This is GREAT news!! I live in Asheville, NC (would LOVE, LOVE, LOVE it if y'all could fly in/out of AVL...maybe 2012?), and GSP is only an hour drive! SWA is the BEST airline in the country - thank you for not being ravenous price-gougers like your competition...they are white-collar criminals, in my opinion. THANK YOU so much for adding GSP to your list of departure/destination sites! Yaaaayyy!!!
Anonymous1202
Explorer C
I was so excited to hear the news that SW will fly to Charleston, I almost cried! I can finally see my family more often. You can count on lots of trips from BWI to Charleston from me. Please keep us posted on when that first flight is because I wouldn't miss it for anything! Relocated Southern Belle~~
Anonymous1761
Explorer C
I was so happy to hear that you will be coming to Charleston, SC! Now, we will be free to fly again at a rate that we all can afford! You have saved us from the "Big Guys". Comfort, customer service, quaility......Wow, sounds like flying on an airline again instead of a flying cattle car. I have friends and family on the west coast I love to visit as often as I can. Thanks to Southwest coming here, I will be able to see them MORE often! Thanks for coming to Charleston! We Love you Southwest!
Mike_A
Explorer C
Thanks! We have family near GSP and couldn't stand flying on other airlines to visit. Now you need to stop leasing those gates you own in CLT and start flying there--that will really cause a stir and a major drop in airline fares for that region. Katie — Thu, 05/13/2010 - 13:49 ------------------------------------------------------------------ What she said 🙂 Of all the cities in the southeast Charlotte is my favorite. Serve it from Nashville please.
Gary17
Explorer C
Comon to Greensboro, NC next. We have to drive so far to get to RDU. You'd have PLENTY of customers here. SOUTHWEST-----------> GSO!!!!!
bonnie-grossman
Explorer C
We're excited to learn what routes SWA will fly from Charleston. We want to try them all SOON. BG