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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
Sandy4
Explorer C
Thankyou!Thankyou! Have been driving to Raleigh and Jacksonville ever since we moved to Charleston just to catch SW !
Carole6
Explorer C
We need more flights going out of LVI in Allentown, PA!
JW4
Explorer C
THANKYOU! Our second home is on Hilton Head Island, and for the last 3 years flying to Savannah or Charleston from Chicago has become almost impossible. Hope you can originate flights direct from Chicago to Charleston. We love flying on Southwest!
Mary_P1
Explorer C
Love to hear of each and every expansion you make.....I think I'll plan a trip to Charleston in 2011....the Spoleto Festival may just be calling my name!
Elaine6
Explorer C
I emailed in the last few months when you might add Charleston,SC to your flight cities. I am thrilled to see it as my family lives there. When I saw it today I got a big smile on my face. Thank you Southwest," the best airline out there" as I tell everyone. From one of your biggest fans!! Elaine from Sammamish
Tom28
Explorer C
We still need you guys to go into Georiga. Have you considered flying into Macon? Anyone doing business on the south or east side of Atlanta plus anywhere within a 75+ mile radius of Central Georgia would be on your Macon flights with a smile. Macon lost it's Delta service and while back and has a great compact municiple airport that is taylor made for an airline like Southwest. BTW, I live in metro Louisville, KY and I'm sick of Delta's blackmail prices for tickets into Atlanta.
Anonymous3046
Explorer C
Tell US AIr to move over and start flying to Charlotte. My three grandsons are there, and SW is always our favoatire airline.
Al_Budde
Explorer C
THANK YOU!!! Hurray! CHS is a college town and our son is there. This is fantastic!
Pat___Maurice
Explorer C
We have been waiting for this good news...we will go from MKE to GSP. Your rates and the free bag feature are sooo attractive. We have a home in SC, so we're looking forward to 2011!
Roberta
Explorer C
How about PVD to Charlotte, NC? Loads of New Englanders have emigrated there, including our daughter, son-in-law and grandchild. Would love to be able to go more often at a lower cost than what that other airline from PVD charges!
Myque
Explorer C
It is soooooo great you responded to my ( and hundreds of others ) request to add South Carolina to your routes. We have people to see in Minneapolis, New Orleans, Houston, Tucson, Indianapolis, and Philadelphia, all cities you serve. Before moving to Columbia, we flew SWA almost exclusively. I believe our city council is trying to work out ways for you to add Columbia as a 3rd. SC city. Any thoughts on that happening too ? LUV YA SWA !!
Lizzie
Explorer C
Thanks for keeping us with options to fly to DCA/IAD from South Carolina!! Charleston never had it so good~!!!!
Kathy7
Explorer C
When my daughters moved to S. Carolina 5 years ago, I wrote and suggested Southwest start serving that area. I loved Southwest, but had to turn to other providers. I probably had nothing to do with the decision making, the wait was long but my wish was granted.. Thank you.
Anonymous3386
Explorer C
SUPER NEWS!!!!! Makes a vacation a lot easier!!
Robert6
Explorer C
I also suggest Southwest Airlines can be consider add new destinatation to the Myrtle Beach Airport in Myrtle Beach, SC. I think that is a great idea for people love going to the beach. I also find out that the other low carrier airlines is no longer to fly to Myrtle Beach, SC anymore. I thought maybe Southwest Airlines might be consider to add new destination to the Myrtle Beach Airport someday near in the future.
Linda_Singleton
Explorer C
Thanks SW I have been waiting and hope you guys would start flying in to SC for a long time. This just made my day. Most of my family live down there around Charleston, Florence and Myrtle Beach. So far you guys are the Best !!!!!!!!!
Eva_Mack
Explorer C
Let me know when this starts
Howweee
Explorer C
That's really good news about South Carolina. Now, when are you going to add a non-stop from Islip (L.I.) to Phoenix, or at least more direct flights (both directions of course)?? Howweee
Marilyn5
Explorer C
Great! Now in the near future, can your go to Hawaii and Myrtle Beach?
Bonnie_of_NH
Explorer C
WooHoo....Yeepeee....Yaahoo. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU. Now I can visit my sisters more often.
Anonymous1907
Explorer C
This is GREAT!!!. Next stop is Myrtle Beach.
MarkH
Explorer C
This is great. Any chance that you might include Columbia too?
Jan12
Explorer C
Yeah! Southwest !!!!!!!!!!! You will make it so much easier for families to visit.
Anonymous2049
Explorer C
Thank you, Thank you, Thank you. Will you have flights from Charleston to Providence, RI? Before we moved from Maryland to South Carolina, we would fly from BWI to Providence to visit our son. We now have no direct flights to Providence. I do hope that you will offer this non-stop flight to Providence.
Anonymous3009
Explorer C
Please, please, please consider flying into Charlotte, NC - my daughter's attending college in VA (we live in CA) and I only like flying Southwest! Thanks!
Janet_Leishman
Explorer C
FANTASTIC - I can't wait!!!!
Anonymous1993
Explorer C
Thank you Southwest! Keep it coming. You're my only airline and I can't wait till you're in all 50 states. (Hint, hint.) 🙂
MM2
Explorer C
I've been longing for this.... Thank you.
Margie
Explorer C
FINALLY! How about Columbia SC and Charlotte NC too!
kheiser
Explorer C
When oh when are you going to start flying to Wilmington, NC? The coast - Myrtle Beach-Wilmington-Outer Banks - need your flights. Raleigh is way too far. Please add Wilmington.
Joe_K
Explorer C
How about Myrtle Beach?
helen_shackelfo
Explorer C
we love Southwest Airlines. We go to Reno and Las vegas and would not fly any other way. Can't wait to go to Charleston. It's a wonderful City. Helen Shackelford
Bill_Stoermer_-
Explorer C
THANKS SW FOR GSP ! Now I have a fighting chance to go see my grandkids in Dallas. But why not just make a short trip over the mountain and add Asheville, NC. Then you could match AA with a direct flight to Dallas. I will bet that a major portion of your customers will be from Asheville and driving down to GSP to catch SW. Thanks again.
Anonymous535
Explorer C
Great Job on providing service to Charleston! This will be a very profiable route that people will fly I wish it was available right now
Anonymous3852
Explorer C
How about Prov to Lax? What a difference it makes when you do not have to change planes
Anonymous1288
Explorer C
How about Charlotte, North Carolina...I use SW to Philly, but have children also in Charlotte.
Anonymous1705
Explorer C
Are either of those near Clemson? Our son is moving there!
Anonymous2356
Explorer C
I also would like service to Shreveport, La....My whole family lives there and it is a 9 to 10 hour drive. We would love to take a flight about 4 times a year...Please consider. Thanks
Anonymous2666
Explorer C
I fly Southwest as often as possible. This just makes it even easier to do so. Now if only they would fly to the islands...
Ernie_Dickens
Explorer C
Will this service be in place in October 2011? We want to go see the Gamecocks whip up on the Crimson Tide.
Robert_Baldridg
Explorer C
Southwest just keeps getting better. Thank you SW, you are appreciated
Deb14
Explorer C
THANK YOU..THANK YOU..THANK YOU!! This is truly an answered prayer!!!!
Gail_Gilbert
Explorer C
How about considering North Carolina. We need more flights for our military in and out of the largest military base in the world in Fayetteville, NC.
R__Klahne
Explorer C
Southwest, Thank you, Thank you, Thank you. I requested (maybe begged) service to Charleston, you listened. We moved here from Orlando area 2 years ago and we desperately miss you. You can't get here soon enough. I'm booking a trip to our daughter in Phoenix as soon as the schedule is ready. Sooooooooooo Excited!!!!!!
Marylou
Explorer C
Any chance that you will come into Charlotte N C. a lot of family there. great tho that you will be in South Carolina
Joy
Explorer C
Oh thank you thank you!!! Charleston is one of our favorite vacation destinations!!
Becky_Waters
Explorer C
How about MYRTLE BEACH??? PLEASE!
Tom_Poole
Explorer C
Thats great!....so when are you going to start service to the most SOUTHWEST State HAWAII?
california_girl
Explorer C
Yay! I will be booking a ticket to GSP ASAP! Please come to Fresno (FAT). CA too! So many people would fly southwest from Fresno!!
nanci
Explorer C
re NC... please say Asheville will be next!