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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
Paticia_Powell
Explorer C
Great news! I am so glad and waited for so long hoping you would come to Greenville. THANK YOU SOUTHWEST.
James_E__Davis
Explorer C
Thank You for South Carolina.......are we getting any closer to Atlanta, GA
Anonymous1968
Explorer C
We live in Baltimore and have a timeshare on Hilton Head. It is great that you are starting service into Charleston. I hope you can give us a direct flight from Baltimore and that service start in January.
usnsardog
Explorer C
Awesome! I've been waiting for this for quite some time!
Anonymous3165
Explorer C
Please don't keep forgetting that great people from ND and MT would love to fly with you. We winter in Phoenix and make good use of your great airline service there but our permanent home in NW North Dakota is far from your great service.
Anonymous2694
Explorer C
How long before you make it to Charolotte, NC?
Pam_Couchenour
Explorer C
Thank you so much. We are so excited that you will now be flying into Greenville. It will be so convenient for us. Keep up the good work. We appreciate all you do.
Anonymous3920
Explorer C
Wonderful news - How about Boston - Savannah, GA for all of us New Englanders that LOVE Hilton Head, SC! For Now, I will take Charleston as another more economical route to HHI!
Marcy3
Explorer C
If Southwest doesn't fly to where I want to go, I drive. Can't count the trips up and down Route 81 to get to Greenville. Can't wait for your schedule.
Carol_B__fla_
Explorer C
LOVE SOUTHWEST, WE HAVE FAMILY IN SOUTH CAROLINA, VIRGINIA, TENNEESEE AND NY.SO WE FLY ALL THE TIME. WE ALSO LOVE THOSE RAPID REWARDS,KEEP THEM COMING...
Jane4
Explorer C
Wonderful news!!! The best would be when you announce flying to Billings, Montana!!!
Anonymous4490
Explorer C
Can you please start service to Greenville NC. I have family in Kinston and I go there twice a year. Thank You
Tom_Romett
Explorer C
THANK YOU! I am ecstatic that you will be flying to SCarolina. I hope you will be able to fly into Myrtle Beach from Pittsburgh. There are many of my friends who would love to see you flying into the main destination in SC-----and that is THE Myrtle Beach! It is THE place for fun, golf, entertainment and relaxation. My friends and I look forward to flying with Southwest and having our bags fly free! Thank YOU!
Lorraine4
Explorer C
Stop in. N Carolina to. We need you there,
Sherry_Haynes
Explorer C
Oh, my gosh...you continue to steal my HEART!!! Not only are you the ONLY airline I fly, you have now given me the City of my Dreams...Charleston!
Evtone
Explorer C
Hurrah, I go every year and I love Southwest Airlines. They are the friendliest airlines i ever used. Charleston is great for me!
Anonymous2377
Explorer C
WOW! I have been wishing for Southwest to go to Charleston! Wishes do come true!!
Anonymous3479
Explorer C
Southwest is great. Best airline in the country bar none. Maybe an exception can be made for Air Force One.
Anonymous2143
Explorer C
Hope your propsed flight to Charleston is departing from Islip, Long Island....
Anonymous2098
Explorer C
Looks like my wife will be going to more Furman University reunions now!
Militar_Wife_to
Explorer C
I'm so excited about flights to SC, but please before 2011. My husband will be there for three months and I'd really rather fly than drive to that location to visit during that time, but thanks for the addition. You're the only airline I fly with , now if you'd just fly to the Carribean everything would be great!
C_____Richards
Explorer C
SW is great!!!!!!!!!! Now we hope you think about adding Maine to your list.
DeeP
Explorer C
Wow, I'm SO happy about this new service. We are moving soon to Murrells Inlet, SC, but I will be commuting often to the Washington/Baltimore area. I sure hope you will have one or both of those cities as destinations from/to Charleston.
Anonymous4224
Explorer C
WOOHOO can't wait as I have family there!!!
sheila_Frazier
Explorer C
FINALLY! WE'VE BEEN WAITING A LONG TIME FOR YOU TO COME. WELCOME TO SOUTH CAROLINA!!!! YOU WILL LOVE IT HERE!
Ann1
Explorer C
BRAVO SOUTHWEST!!! Keep up the good work. I've flown US Air, Delta, Spirit, and Airtran and none can come close to Southwest's service, amenities, or personnel. Kudos to all. It's too bad you don't fly to more cities. I'm sure you'd have to add more planes or turn away travelers. Speaking of more cities, is there a chance you might be adding service to eastern North Carolina, for example: Jacksonville or New Bern, North Carolina? There are many military bases in that area and feel sure the families of these service men would greatly appreciate the wonderful services and fares Southwest provides. Think about it 🙂
harold_jackson
Explorer C
I live in Tampa and I occasionally vacation in Montego Bay Jamaica and Cancun Mexico. Has Southwest considered flying to one of those destinations?
Panda
Explorer C
Have always wanted to visit Charleston and now I can! The only thing better would be if y'all would start flying to Knoxville, TN...hint, hint, hint.
Anonymous2810
Explorer C
I am seriously considering flying to the Greenville-Spartanburg area in June 2011 for my granddaughters hight school graduation and I am so pleased that Southwest will be flying into that airport. I live in the Columbus, OH area and am wondering if it will be a direct flight. This will be a great convenience for me as my family lives about an hour's drive from Greenville. Closer than any other major airport.
Debbie_Giovanne
Explorer C
Fabulous! Very happy about SW adding South Carolina. How about adding Myrtle Beach to the list!! That's a tourist hotspot for families as well as golfers, and on a totally selfish note, our condo isn't far from there either! It would be so handy to fly their more often for shorter stays, than drive there as we do now!
ken_boward
Explorer C
You did it again SW,show those small airlines something.I will be going to SC again and again as my daughter is moving there this year. Thanks Ken
Anonymous2810
Explorer C
I am condering flying to the Greenville-Spartanburg in June 2011 to attend my granddaughter's high school granduation. I am so glad Southwest will be flying there. I live in the Columbus, OH area and am wondering if this will be a direct flight. My family lives about an hour from the Greenville-Spartanburg airport and this will be a great help for all.
Linda_A_
Explorer C
YES!!! So happy to hear you are going to S.C. Now, how about Ga. as well??? Why does Delta have a monopoly there? GO SOUTHWEST!!!
Bill31
Explorer C
Glad to see your flying to SC. I visit SC all the time and had to use another airline. Now i can fly Southwest all the time and it will be easier that you are flying to SC. Maybe some consider Myrtle Beach??
Tom_Lyons
Explorer C
I have a home in union and plan to retire there in a couple more years, cant wait . This will make it so much easier, I was hoping Southwest would open a route to the great state of South Carolina. Once starting you will definitly get all my busniess South West. thank you
BETTY_ZWIACHER
Explorer C
WE ARE SENIOR'S AND LOOKING FORWARD TO SOUTHWEST FLYING TO RDU SO WE MIGHT SEE OUR FAMILY MORE OFTEN.
Anonymous1598
Explorer C
Awesome, can't wait!! Now SOUTHWEST just needs to service Charlotte, North Carolina!!!!
resident_of_con
Explorer C
How about a stop at Myrtle Beach!!!!! Please Please consider this especially now that the airport is expanding. I'm sure this would be a very popular route with many tourists. Thanks
D_Waters
Explorer C
A VERY SMART MOVE!!!!! Will there be direct service from DEN?
Barb3
Explorer C
We would love for you to give Delta a run for their money and fly in to Memphis from Bwi. PLeezeee as my grandaughter would say.
Bernard
Explorer C
Fantastic news on Charleston! I'll be flying there on Southwest hopefully spring 2011! The photo in the announcement is Palmer House, a bed & breakfast in Charleston right on the Charleston Bay/Harbor. It is a GREAT place to stay. The photo was taken when it was freshly painted (or it's a retouched photos), but it is a great place to stay - extremely convenient to walk to all of the great shops, galleries, restaurants and nightspots. No car needed to explore a weekend in Charleston (I'm not familiar with Palmer House, but had a great visit there and will be returning soon).
Judith_from_Gre
Explorer C
Greenville is SO excited to have SW coming here. I personally am thrilled. I have flown SW before and loved it. So, welcome to Greenville! Can't wait till you arrive!
Carlene_-_Kansa
Explorer C
Great news about Charleston, but would like Savannah, Ga (SAV) even better. The Savannah/Hilton Head airport would be a great location for those of us who frequently go back and forth from the Savannah/Hilton Head area. Jacksonville and Charleston are both far enough away that this would not compete with SWA, only with Delta, Continental, etc.
robert_randall_
Explorer C
thats great news,our son lives in spartburg area,thank you
Carole3
Explorer C
Glad to see SC being added - how about Myrtle Beach? Also, any chance of flying to Colorado Springs, CO anytime soon? Great airline. Only change wish is that we could pick our seats when we make our reservations.
GoingRacin1
Explorer C
This is so exciting! We are true racing fans and this will allow us to travel with our favorite airline to the heart of the real racing world!! Thanks Southwest
pj_rabon
Explorer C
how about flying into columbia?
Shelley2
Explorer C
My husband and I ONLY fly Southwest - this opens up a whole new area for us to explore. Thanks!!
Anonymous4037
Explorer C
Will you fly into Columbia South Carolina
Emily111
Explorer C
THANK YOU!!! I have always wanted to go to Charleston, but didn't want to make the long drive from Nashville! Now we will go on our favorite airline, SWA 🙂