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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
Monique_Tuzo_Fu
Explorer C
Thank you so much, best news I have heard all week.
Susan_Scott
Explorer C
I am so excited about Charleston! I flew from Tampa to Raleigh for 5 years and then my son moved to Charleston. I miss SW!! My other sons live in Houston and all I ever fly is SW I go to New Orleans and Buffalo and now I can fly only SW! It pays to have a SW visa!
maryeva
Explorer C
Like many others, I try to travel only where Southwest GOES!!! WHERE SOUTHWEST GOES, SO GO US!!! We have not traveled on another airline for 4 years!
Linda_Madden
Explorer C
Living close to Manchester, NH I fly SW to Phila to see family in NJ/Phila area (having to rent a car though). It would be alot easier on many passengers if you could get a gate at Newark to service the large population in north/central NJ area. Hey what's a little competition with Continental? Many thanks to your continuing expansions in the US!
Scoop
Explorer C
Any direct flights from Albuquerque? Can't wait!
S__Morris
Explorer C
FINALLY!!!!!! A little closer.....would love it if you flew to Myrtle Beach!!! Is there a reason u dont? Have heard different reasons. Charleston is great.....luv the city. I will ONLY fly SW (if available) when I travel. Keep up the good work.
Anonymous2778
Explorer C
Yes! We are very excited that you are flying into Greenville Spartanburg. We are Texans and we lived in Greenville, SC for 6 years off and on for work. Now that we are settled back home, we want to go back and visit all of the friends we made in SC and this will make it so much easier! Luv you SW
Lydia_Gilboy
Explorer C
We love SW and frequently drive to Raleigh to get it, but Myrtle Beach or Wilmington would also be great.........SW is all that we fly............here's hoping!!!!!!
Ruth_Ann_Goldth
Explorer C
What about Columbia SC? That would be so great for our Family. I love flying South West . We have lots of family in Lexington and West Columbia. Please consider this.
Larry_Booker
Explorer C
I've lived long enough to see a fledgling airline--Southwest--become THE premier Air Carrier in the U.S. I ONLY fly another airline when i have NO CHOICE. I wish you were in every major city in the Nation! But I am glad you are growing and see the wisdom of you 'taking careful time'. P.S. Your people ARE truly some of the friendliest anywhere!!!
Dee3
Explorer C
Thank you Southwest......you are the ONLY airline I use and I am so glad you are going into South Carolina where my family have lived for 7 generations! Thank you again!!!!!
Suzanne6
Explorer C
Can';t wait !
Bill_Hoadley
Explorer C
AT LAST! I've been waiting for years for you to fly into Greenville/Spartanburg. Charleston makes it that much better. Now I hope I'll be able to fly there from Albuquerque! Bravo.
gwen_kelley
Explorer C
SW is my favorite airline and i have always found it so hard to get to Charleston from Providence, and wished they flew there! Now it appears a dream will come true!YAY!!!!
Anonymous545
Explorer C
Great, a flight into SC will be so appreciated. How about in Savannah, GA? Lots of people need a closer flight to Parris Island, SC. to see their Marines graduatefrom boot camp, not to mention visitors to Hilton Head. A Savannah flight would be perfect!!
Bob__LI__NY
Explorer C
Will there be any flight from Islip NY to Charleston,SC. We have a place on Sea Brook Island.
Mary_Lou1
Explorer C
Although I usually fly from LGA or JFK into Savannah to go into SC, this will be great. I can go from Long Island (I hope) to Charleston and then drive the 85 miles south to the Hilton Head area.
Renee_Craven
Explorer C
I'm so excited about the new plans to have service to South Carolina. I only wish you'd make them available as early as September 2010. I have family members planning to attend a wedding in September 2010 from Charleston, SC (CHS) to Washington-Dulles (IAD), and more family can come if the service is available to them at a reasonable price. Please consider this in your plans. Thanks, Renee
Jan_Williams
Explorer C
GREAT! I've been wantin' to go to Charleston, ya'll to meet up with my cousin Beth. Now I'll get to fly and use my Rapid Rewards! Life is Good...
Suzy1
Explorer C
Would love if SW would go into Jacksonville, NC; have family there we would be able to see often and not use the competors. Much happier with SW!!!
Pat_A
Explorer C
Hopefully Southwest will soon serve North Carolina as well as SC.
Jan_Williams
Explorer C
GREAT! I've been wantin' to meet up with Cousin Beth and now I'll get Rapid Rewards when I fly to Charleston. Life is good....
Jo4
Explorer C
Oh!! Finally! We travel to Myrtle Beach yearly for golf and the closest SW flights are at Raliegh-Durham (3 hours away). Now we can drive 1 hour. Much better!! Maybe you'll start going direct to Myrtle Beach????
Richard_Rider_-
Explorer C
Could SW make a stop in Myrtle Beach? Or maybe at least fly over it and let departing passengers parachute down?
Pam_B
Explorer C
So awsome that you now will be serving the state of South Carolina. Southwest Airlines does such an awsome job it really is difficult wanting to fly with other Airlines!!!
Donna_T
Explorer C
Wow, I am so excited to read this. My son is stationed in the AF there in Charleston, I have a great feeling, with the great service of Southwest (my favorite airline), I'm going to be able to go visit him more. I am so excited.
Jean_Dryden
Explorer C
NOW WE WOULD LIKE TO SEE YOU GO TO ROANOKE, VA.
Anonymous1095
Explorer C
When can we expect your going to Portland Maine?
Anonymous1035
Explorer C
Yes!! We are so excited. Our son and his family are in Charleston and we would love to fly there from Columbus, OH! THANK YOU! From one Buckeye to our SC Buckeyes!
Deb_I_
Explorer C
Hooray! My best friend lives in Charleston. I fly SW 99.9% of the time when I travel and it will be wonderful to be able to fly SW to see her! It's about time. Thank you, thank you, thank y ou!
Dorothy_-_Vanco
Explorer C
WOW! This the best news I've heard in the SW newsletter! We have family in S. Carolina and it is so expensive to try to visit each other. The sooner you start the service, the better for all of us! I guarantee we'll be on Southwest there. Just recently I told my daughter I wished SW would fly to Charleston! Wishes really do come true! THANK YOU!
HLS
Explorer C
Great!!! I live in St louis & girlfriend lives in Chicago, family is in sc now we will have a better choice. Trips there are usually such a hassel
Anonymous1949
Explorer C
Thank you.... this is a very welcome addtion!!! Please make sure it works from San Diego to Charleston!!!
Mary_Sharp
Explorer C
I will keep my fingers crossed until you fly into Savanna Georgia as my daughter lives just north of there at Dawta Islands, South Carolina. I LUV Southwest Airlines. Your low air fare shows us you care for us which is mostly the hard working Americans on a tight budget. Thanks again for caring about us.
Rick1
Explorer C
Finally! Adios, Delta ! ! ! ! You'll have to get your baggage fees from someone else from now on! YAHOO ! ! PLEASE NONSTOP OUT OF BURBANK! 🙂
to77
Explorer C
we could take a 2nd honeymoon - hope you have a flight from MCI
Sigh
Explorer C
Woot! Now how about Hotlanta?
christine__Webb
Explorer C
WOW! SOuthwest is going to be my new best friend, as we can now travel reasonably to CHS!!!Thank Y'ALL!!!
Anonymous2026
Explorer C
FINALLY into Charleston. NOW IF WE CAN ONLY GET ISP TO MELBOURNE, FLORIDA!!!!! PLEASE???
Anonymous627
Explorer C
Please provide service to and from Knoxville, TN. We need you badly.
Anonymous627
Explorer C
Please provide service to and from Knoxville, TN. We need you badly.
Anonymous2939
Explorer C
Hope someday you will start service to Asheville, NC
Marilyn6
Explorer C
Wonderful news! Wish it were this summer as we are planning a trip to Myrtle Beach. Would have come in handy. This will also come in handy for our trips to Hilton Head. thank you ! ! !
Hope_Cunningham
Explorer C
You have no idea how thrilled I am! We moved from Charleston to Tucson in 2001. Getting back to visit friends and family has been a real chore. I can't wait to try your new service. Trust me, we will be using it several times a year!
William6
Explorer C
Please add Philadelphia, PA to Columbia, SC to your route. Thank-You.
Jeanne2
Explorer C
So very sad you're not including Wilmington, NC.
Annette2
Explorer C
Now lets open up non-stop Nashville to Dallas Love Field!
Anonymous797
Explorer C
Yeah! My favorite airline is now going to one of my favorite states! I am so happy. It is a great move!
GARY_UHLENKOTT
Explorer C
WILL BE FLYING FROM SAN DIEGO (SAN) WOULD LOVE TO BE ON THE FIRST FLIGHT MY GRAND SON WILL BE BORN IN JULY THIS YEAR AND WANT TO SEE MORE OF HIM. ITS AN EASY RUN FROM GSP TO ASHEVILLE (AVL)
jimw
Explorer C
It's great that Southwest will be flying to Charleston and Greensboro, but how about moving in to Georgia and flying to Savannah to accomodate all those people who go to Hilton Head Island and the other islands off of the Georgia coast.