Skip to main content

Southwest Airlines Community

SWA TO BOSTON: WE’RE GOING WHERE EVERYBODY KNOWS OUR NAME!

Bill
Employee
Employee

Queue the background sounds of the teletype, and then in your best "newsman voice" read the copy:


THIS JUST IN: SOUTHWEST PLANS TO START SERVICE TO BOSTON LOGAN INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT LATER THIS YEAR!

It’s true! We intend to add a third new city to our expanding route network in 2009, and this time it's Boston!

Of course….calling Boston a "new" city for Southwest is a little misleading. It certainly will be a new airport—but Southwest has actually served the Boston area for over a decade. We started with service to Providence, Rhode Island, in October 1996, and expanded our coverage of the metropolitan Boston area less than two years later by adding service to Manchester, New Hampshire, in the summer of 1998. We now have nearly 60 daily departures from the Boston area to nonstop destinations all over our network, with direct and connecting service to darn near every airport we serve. Our arrival in Boston later this year will complement that service so that travelers have several ways to choose Southwest from their favorite New England airport.

This isn’t news, of course, but Boston has always been dear to our heart—we’ve been affiliated with the Boston Celtics for many years, so you guys KNOW us! So when we finally land at Logan—it’s going to be like the many scenes from the iconic sitcom set in Boston, “Cheers” when Norm walks into the bar.  When we start serving Logan—we’re thinking everyone will shout “HELLO, SOUTHWEST!”
 

Even with the addition of a third new city, we still plan to rein in our usual aggressive growth this year.  We’re able to capture new business in new Southwest markets by use of our schedule optimizer, which gives us the ability to develop schedules that improve our product and yet stay nimble and able to respond to market changes.


We’ll announce where we’ll fly from Logan, and all of the other cool details, later. But for now—thanks for your support, and we’re working hard to make our network EVER more efficient to get y’all from where you are to where you want to be—and back!

 

Be sure and listen to the newest Red Belly Radio episode about our new Boston service.
 

78 Comments
drew
Adventurer B
Exciting news!
Anonymous4275
Explorer C
Well i'm excited we have to go where the customers are......This announcment proves that our leaders have the vision to protect our airlines....
RICKEY_MATTHEWS
Explorer C
non-stop bna to boston.........yes
Mia
Explorer C
HOOORAY! Thank you southwest! Welcome to Beantown!
myadvice
Explorer C
I would love to see PIT-BOS. The O&D is about 765 Pax/day. The PIT-BOS market is served by Jetblue which is very weak in PIT and US who is hasn't seen a route from PIT that they couldn't downsize or drop. IMHO If WN would throw 4x daily on the route, Jetblue would be gone and US would quickly downgrade to 50 seat RJ's. Perhaps WN could provide one stop service for BOS pax through PIT to STL (one stop PIT-DAL), or BNA (one stop PIT-HOU), or HOU or Florida.
cday
Frequent Flyer C
So exciting! Thanks Bill for the great post!
Anonymous2918
Explorer C
Wow, I can't wait! I'm wishing that you will fly to Oakland, Ca!! Luv, your airline.
MHT_Flyer
Explorer C
Does this signal expected growth in New England flights or a drop-off in service at Manchester and Providence? Or both?
spinotter
Explorer C
Hey, Southwest Airlines - Welcome to Boston. However, could you change the spelling of the word "reign" to the correct word "rein"? "we still plan to reign in our usual aggressive growth" We proper Bostonians prefer proper spellings! spinotter
Anonymous1989
Explorer C
Wonderful and unexpected news! Great for those of us in Bean-town.... Your post mentions a schedule optimizer - interesting - why did Boston suddenly appear great? A friend of mine who lives around here, has been saying she'd love to fly SWA to HRL - but didn't want to take the train to Providence, well great news!
Anonymous2161
Explorer C
As with LGA, I hope that Southwest is not getting away from its roots of fast, cheap, friendly service. I believe that BOS and LGA will slow down operations because they are big, slow, inefficient airports. I will sit back and watch, hopefully nothing will change. Go Southwest!
Anonymous435
Explorer C
Great news! How about a BOS-STL non-stop?
Anonymous4021
Explorer C
Congrats on the new city. BNA-BOS, please.
Casey9
Explorer C
Let the fare wares begin --- between JetBlue, AirTran, all the regulars, and the new additions of SouthWest and Virgin, will there be anywhere us Bostonians CAN'T fly? I have quite a few weddings coming up, so i'm certainly thankful for the plethora of options!
Anonymous227
Explorer C
Please compete with the BOS-PHL route. I'm tired of $1000 direct round trip flights from here. You could charge $300 and make a healthy profit.
Anonymous2070
Explorer C
Go Southwest !!! We have been waiting for this. Please include BNA-BOS. When can I book it??!!
Anonymous2055
Explorer C
Love Field to Boston please!
blusk
Aviator C
spinotter, It is obvious proper Bostonians have great eyes. Thanks for catching that. Brian
Anonymous1588
Explorer C
I have relatives in Wichita and I live in Dallas and I go up there a lot. You can't imagine how many people have started driving up there because of the super high fares that American charges out of DFW on that route. I sure wish SWA would start an ICT-DAL route because I think it would knock the socks off of AA!
ba_harris
Explorer C
I have been using Southwest out of Green airport in R.I. since you came here . I hope you will continue to fly out of RI. Southwest is the only carrier I use. Thank-you BAHarris
Anonymous3237
Explorer A
My guess is they will be flying to BWI and MDW from BOS to test the market. Southwest has almost always started a city by doing a couple short-haul flights to hubs. (They only go to MDW from MSP.) If there is enough depand, they will expand.
southwestair556
Explorer C
YES! We have all been waiting for Southwest to come to Boston:-D SWA#1
Bill
Employee
Employee
spinotter, Mea culpa....we Texans don't speak no good English.... *grin*
Anonymous3827
Explorer C
I think its fabulous news to hear. WN will looking for 12 dailies roundtrip, am I correct? I am feels concerns about WN will have begin service from BOS-MDW/BWI/PHL for beginning in the fall 2009. After that WN will continues to expand more potentially new route from BOS-MCO/FLL/PBI/TPA/JAX/PHX/LAS/BNA/HOU/MSY. It would be enough more capacity growth in BOS. I'll guarantee do that where WN will considers to have continues more new cities coming soon.
Anonymous3885
Explorer C
This is the best news. I faithfully fly Southwest from MHT-TPA. Im moving to Boston shortly and this was a nice surprise....hopefully you will fly to TPA! Thanks and Keep up the great work.
FH_Alexander
Explorer C
Please please please tell me that Atlanta is next on your list!!!! I traveled to Orange County from Atlanta recently with a colleague. We both talked about wanting to stop by the SWA counter just to say hi since we don't get to fly with y'all anymore. Please come to Atlanta soon - Delta is sucking the life out of the customer service expectations one dissatisfied customer at a time down here.
Anonymous3827
Explorer C
Not just yet where WN will looking for serves into ATL. I think that mean it was still rumors for quite of the time. I would likely to begin where WN will be next announce new cities. I think WN will expect to begin potential service to ATL anytime soon. If they have enough more gate space available. I'll guarantee where ATL hub is very extremely overcrowded both Delta & AirTran.
Anonymous2652
Explorer C
I agree with a nonstop in both direction from BOS to STL . Have you determine which month in the fall you will start the service. I can hardly wait to plan trips from STL to BOS
Anonymous4254
Explorer C
Hey, how about a non-stop from Boston to LA???? Can't do it out of Providence because the runways are too short. Now, there's no excuse.
MIKE_THORN
Explorer C
I AM NOT FLY TO LOGAN BECAUSE I DO NOT LIKE LOGAN BUT I WILL KEEP FLY TO MANCHESTER IT MUCH EASIER FOR ME THAT S WHY I NOT FLY TO LOGAN
Anonymous3354
Explorer C
It would be great if you would service Boston to Palm Beach and/or New Orleans! SWA is the best!
Shari
Explorer C
Great to see you adding Boston - now I can chose from MHT or BOS and get almost everywhere I need to be. Almost. Now if you would just add Atlanta - the place my family travels to/from most often - your network (in my book) would be complete!
KS
Explorer C
Yeah! So excited to see that SWA will start service to Boston. I am assuming that there will be some non stop flights between BOS and MDW. As a former Bostonian living near MDW, I am excited to use your service. Can go visit family more often!! I love SWA!!!!!
Anonymous2859
Explorer C
When will you come to Des Moines Iowa ??? we need you here !!! would be better if you came to Cedar Rapids, Iowa, but Des Moines would do also !!! Love your service, will be using the new service out of Minneapolis/St Paul next month. Thanks !!!
cbraden
Explorer C
Hey Bill: Good post and exciting news! Norfolk raises it's hand. ORF-BOS 123 PDEW 33.69 yield/cpm Overpriced. Underserved. Unstimulated. Lotsa Pax Leaking Away. Send Help. (this is like a message in a bottle!) Charlie Braden
Brady
Explorer C
Southwest competitors beware: The Boston Fee Party is OVER!!! Southwest Airlines is coming to town! Low Fares. No Hidden Fees.
tim-c
Explorer C
Super exciting news!! My seatback and tray are in the upright position, and I'm ready to go!
Anonymous1108
Explorer C
Your announcement made my day--really! Here's to Southwest's Beantown express!
Anonymous3236
Explorer C
I agree with expanding service at PBI
Anonymous3064
Explorer C
I hope they don't eliminate flights from Manchester. I love flying out of Manchester even though I'm closer to Boston. Much much easier! Please don't eliminate Florida flights from MHT!
Fran_pangakis
Explorer C
WOO HOO! This news just made me VERY happy! Way to go SWA.
RSL
Explorer C
This is such exciting news to start off the weekend! PLEASE do a PHL-BOS route!! Way to go Southwest- UR the Best!
Anonymous4240
Explorer C
Finally! I am so happy this is finally happening!
John_Damaso
Explorer C
How about some non stop flights to Fort Myers for all the Red Sox fans! Neither Manchester or Providence does non stop.
Anonymous3962
Explorer C
I am so proud to work for a company in todays economic times that see into the future enough to move forward. SWA Rocks!!!!!1
Anonymous927
Explorer C
Good to hear! Hope some amazing prices come attached to these flights!
Anonymous927
Explorer C
Good to hear! Hope some cheap prices come with this.
Anonymous575
Explorer C
bos to bna cant wait every fri
Anonymous2434
Explorer C
Thats awesome news that Southwest will fly into BOS. I have lots of family there. Please consider BOS-BNA and BOS-MSY.
Anonymous256
Explorer C
BOO!!!! All WN will do is cause chaos at Logan. All your going to do is cause chaos to the many travelers. Please don't go to Florida. That is already a competitive market with DL and B6, even Spirit and somehow AA are in this. That would make it worse. There may be a short supply of room (only 4 gates)...You're going down WN!