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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
Anonymous186
Explorer C
Great News!!!!! Hope to see flights closer to Jacksonville N.C. soon....PLEASE.....We travel this airline and theres just nothing close to the base or to the beach or S. C.. this will be something to look forward too. Thank you for the great fares!!!!!!!!!!!!!
John_Dempsey
Explorer C
I am very pleased that southwest is finally going to SC because we have alot of friends there and the other airlines make it much to difficult and costly. good job southwest....JD
Joye
Explorer C
Hip Hip Hooray! You'll now be in my back yard. Can't wait.
Marilyn_Stewart
Explorer C
I love Southwest Airlines and I will not fly on an airline that charges for baggage. I use to be a flight Attendant and the service is great. I am so happy you are going to SC, being I am from NC. We have an airline that cares more about people than profit for bags. I think most Americans are tired of being nickled and dimed. Thank you and maybe Virginia next
CarolRHSC
Explorer C
WONDERFUL NEWS. I recently emailed SW and asked for service to SC and now here you come. THANK YOU FOR RESPONDING to the requests. I will certainly use your services and I can't wait to see your schedule out of Greenville Spartanburg. THANK YOU THANK YOU
Anonymous894
Explorer C
When are you going to take over Atlanta?????????????
Sean11
Explorer C
this is the best thing you have done.....we LOVE swa and now will be able to visit family there and it won't take all day like it does with the OTHER airlines that serve this area.... thank you....thank you
debbie_pitula
Explorer C
Will you ever fly into Asheville, NC? Via Charleston???My son lives there and everytime I go I have to fly USAir (which I do not like) I have been a Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards member for many years and cannot tell you how many times I have flown from MHT to DAL, Utah, Las Vegas, Orlando, Pittsburg, Please add Asheville to your routes!!!!! Thank you for the great service!
Phillip_A__Monr
Explorer C
My wife and I are happy that Southwest Airlines will be serving the State of South Carolina. Our son, a Staff Sergeant with the United States Marines will be stationed there for the next 3 years at Parris Island.
Anonymous1262
Explorer C
PLEASE...Charleston to Baltimore. It will seal the deal for our retirement plan!!!
Chach___Tobi
Explorer C
We've been flying Southwest for years (our preferred airline) and we're glad to see you expanding in the Southeast market...we'd love to see you fly to Georgia!
Mom_of_a_son
Explorer C
my son moved to Hilton Head a few years ago and this is so great that we have another option with southwest to fly into we usually fly into Jacksonvlle, but this will be better, thank you southwest.
River_City_Red
Explorer C
Amen to please add Shreveport LA to your list of destinations. I love flying Southwest - you have been there for me on so many occasions, and you're the first airline I check when planning a trip. My only living child is living in Shreveport and if Southwest could add this city to your desitination points, or somewhere closer than Dallas, it would mean that many more visits we could plan.
Anonymous2621
Explorer C
Tri-Cities TN(TRI) would be a great location for SWA. It serves all NE Tenn. SW Va and SE Ky. Any plans for that area????? PLEASE!!!
Anonymous3779
Explorer C
Great News, but I would be even happier to hear you are going to fly into Myrtle Beach. I heard a while back that you wanted to, but there was no room for you, but they are now expanding and hopefully you are looking into the possiblity of doing business in Myrtle Beach, the airport that many many golferes fly in and out of every day, as well as families getting away.
HELENE
Explorer C
THIS IS GREAT NEWS. YOU ARE THE BEST AND ONLY AIRLINE FOR ME. I WISH YOU COULD FLY INTO O'HARA. I PURPOSELY FLY INTO MIDWAY SO THAT I CAN USE SOUTHWEST. I KNOW THAT IN THE FUTURE YOU WILL ADD MORE DESTINATIONS. I CAN'T WAIT.
LAMONT
Explorer C
THAT'S FANTASTIC. I'VE BEEN THERE A FEW TIMES (CHARLESTON) AND TOLD MY LADY HOW IT WAS (FOOD , PEOPLE AND SITES) SO THIS IS GOING TO BE GREAT. WE LOOK FORWARD TO BEING SOME OF THE FIRST TO FLY WITH YOU SO PLEASE KEEP US INFORMED.
KALONA
Explorer C
HEY AWESOME !!! WOULD BE GREAT TOO FOR NC - GSO!!! I'VE JUST MET NEW FRIENDS FROM SC AND NC !!!
Anonymous2272
Explorer C
Rochester, NY Pretty Please!!!
Anonymous2272
Explorer C
Rochester, NY Pretty Please!!!
Missy_McCarthy
Explorer C
YAHOO!!! It's about we entered the real world and got an airline. I can't wait. Please try to hurry up the start date!
jc
Explorer C
When will this start? In time for my planned August trip?
Beth6
Explorer C
I can't wait for southwest to start flying to South Carolina. I presently live in Sacramento but will be moving to South Carolina in 2011 and not far from Greenville. I look forward to being able to take trips from an airport much closer than Atlanta, Georgia!
melvin
Explorer C
This is fantastic news. I live outside of baltimore and you guys have made my travel life easy. Great news about south carolina, I wish it could be sooner!
Anonymous3507
Explorer C
You are getting closer to Savannah - but could you look in to starting a direct fly to Savannah? I have family there and travel often and I love Southwest so it would be a win win situation for us both!
Former_Travel_A
Explorer C
Thank you for being in Pittsburgh! Please continue to add flights from there. USAir has forgotten us (last trip through Phila. 4/10 we had to wait until 3:00 a.m. for a flight...crew had to be found...and that's a hub).. and just yesterday United was trying to check in over 50 passengers with just one agent (line lasted over an hour) and then we sat on the tarmac 20 minutes because the person meeting the plane in Denver( a hub) was ill. I now am waiting in Albuquerque for a checked bag that did not complete the trip with us....next trip CHICAGO July 5th..and it will be on Southwest!!!!
Katie14
Explorer C
Fabulous! Hope we can fly from St. Louis or Kansas City, since we're in between them! I love Southwest!
Herb_Selby
Explorer C
We are so excited about going to GSP. We are stock holders and have flown SW for many years. We now have Children and Grand children in Greenville and have had to fly other airlines to get there. Will now plan more trips per year. Herb from San Diego and Phoenix.
Ed_F
Explorer C
Hoping your new flights originate at ISP. We currently fly into Raleigh and renting a car, it gets tiresome and keeps us from going as often as we would like. Retired now and will relocate, even then, family will be able to visit more frequently and vice-versa. Now Hurry up !!!! I need to go south soon. Unfortunatly sometimes we use jet blue to charlotte to save time ( except leaving from JFK is a pain in the...) Hurry Please
gus_argenal
Explorer C
Very excited about your plans for Charleston. Please keep us informed. Gus and Gerry Argenal
Effie1
Explorer C
It is so wonderful to support your airline. Just recently, I had a great trip to OKC and it was your continued exemplary customer service that made the trip less stressfull. I work is the hotel business and in the same week of my return, I heard 2 other airline's stories of terriable customer service. Thank You, Keep up the good work and caring for the human element of travel.
pkrains
Explorer C
So happy to hear about Southwest's decision to fly to Charleston... that's fairly close to Savannah, GA where my daughter lives. Any chance you'll ever get flights directly into Savannah? Looking forward to 2011 and flying Southwest to the East Coast! Keep up the great service! You're the best!
lee-graul
Explorer C
I've flown SWA frequently to visit our daughter when she was studying at NC State (Raleigh) for her undergrad, Ann Arbor, MI (Detroit) for her graduate degree, and will look forward to flying more affordably to Charleston where she has resided since May 2009. Just returned from a visit to the Dallas/Ft Worth area and flew SWA to get there, too. Thanks, SWA!
Rudy1
Explorer C
I am so excited that you are increasing service to the Carolina's. I live in Chicago and fly your airline numerous times a year. I have family in the Charlotte area and have always been forced to fly USAirways (an awful airline!). Although I will have to drive a bit to get from GSP to Charlotte, I welcome the new service and look forward to taking one of the first flights that departs Chicago-Midway! KEEP UP THE GREAT SERVICE!
Effie
Explorer C
My husband and I just came back from a trip driving around the Southeast and had a HORRIBLE experience flying with United. We even had to postpone our trip by a day because of their cancellations, equipment malfunctions and inflexibility to change my seat due to an allergy I had to another passenger's perfume. I love SW's flexible policies and easy way of flying. I am thrilled to know that SW will be flying to SC in 2011. Now, if SW could please add Asheville, NC (the home of the Biltmore), Atlanta and Savannah, GA (the home of Paula Deen) to your list of service areas, I, for one, would greatly appreciate. Thanks Southwest. Effie
Linda_Dunsing
Explorer C
I am soooooooooooooooooooooo happy you are coming to Greenville, SC. I love SWA but I was so disappointed that I had to fly into Charlotte via another airlines. My daughter and family live in the Greenville area and I am moving there the end of July. We are moving from CT and our other children will still be living there so this will make it perfect for us to get together via your airlines. I will also be using it for other flights to Jacksonville (have friends there) and else where. Thank you so much. I have been hoping for this for 3 years.
Leanne1
Explorer C
What about Montana? It's a lot closer from UT than SC. Any near future plans?
Maryina
Explorer C
Could you please start service to Melbourne, Florida? I fly in and out of Orlando but would absolutely love to have Melbourne be an option.
Anonymous4200
Explorer C
Yea, SC...How about expanding on to Hilton Head, SC? Talk about a dream come true. Please!!!
Jeannette
Explorer C
We have been waiting for this service for years! This is great news.
Ada
Explorer C
We always try to fly on Southwest because it is our favorite airline. Now, we can fly on Southwest to visit our son who lives there.
Marinda
Explorer C
Wonderful!!! I am so excited to hear you're flying to the Carolinas! Originally from Dallas, Texas always using Southwest for most my flights, however could not since living in western part of North Carloina (between Charlotte, NC and Greenville, SC) I will defintely fly SW to Dallas to visit all my family and friends (especailly my new granddaughter)! This is so exciting for me and my hubby! Thank You!!!!!!
Anonymous4494
Explorer C
Sure would be great if you would add Savannah to your destinations.
Brenda_Lee
Explorer C
We have a girls' trip every year to South Carolina. Woo hoo! Now we can get there using the carrier we prefer!
Anonymous2730
Explorer C
Any plans to fly into Shreveport, La in the near future? Would make a Mother's heart happy!
Anonymous3900
Explorer C
Why not Charlotte? Many of us who live in the northeast and are loyal Southwest customers make many business and personal trips to Charlotte. While I'm delighted about service to GSP (I also make numerous trips to Asheville), Southwest routes through Charlotte would guarantee I would never have to step onto a US Air or United Flight. Wouldn't that be glorious!!!
Julie3
Explorer C
My sister just moved to Charleston and visiting frim Kansas City has been tedious. Southwest to Charleston would be a pleasure. Please keep me up to date on your plans
Todd12
Explorer C
Need a Raleigh to Fort Myers direct flight how about just once a day
Anonymous2110
Explorer C
I just wish SW had some non-stop/or more non-plane-change flights from the SF Bay Area to the DC/Maryland area!! It's grueling to be en route for 8.5 hours when I know it could be 6... SC is a nice add, though. Maybe meet my folks at their SC summer vacation place.
Jimmie
Explorer C
I need to fly Houston-Charleston by October 10, 2010. Any chance?