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Shhhhh…..the Fall 2012 Schedule is now available for sale through Nov. 2, 2012!

Bill
Employee
Employee

Today we published the Southwest Airlines and AirTran Airways schedules out through Nov. 2, 2012, making 256 days of travel available for sale.  The majority of this Schedule is in October, a month known for a number of things:  great weather … football … fall foliage … and no major changes in Customer demand!  This new schedule reflects those subtle changes.  In fact, the small list of added and eliminated markets should look very familiar—the vast majority of them are markets we’ve flown before, are old seasonal standards leaving us temporarily, or are part of the transition from the AirTran brand to Southwest.

To get specific, we’re bringing back daily seasonal service on the AirTran side between Baltimore/Washington and Ft. Myers and between Grand Rapids and Orlando—with returning Saturday nonstops between Flint and Tampa Bay.  Southwest is bringing back nonstop daily service between Orlando and both Jackson and Indianapolis, plus a real Motown-style oldie comes back with the return of nonstop service between Detroit and Las Vegas, which we’ve not seen since 2006.  Two brand-new Southwest markets are brand transitions, with Southwest replacing AirTran’s two daily roundtrips between Atlanta and San Francisco, and one of ten daily AirTran roundtrips between Atlanta and Orlando moving over to Southwest “metal.”  We’ll also discontinue the two daily AirTran roundtrips between Atlanta and Phoenix, with the two existing Southwest nonstops in that market covering the Customer demand.

Discontinued markets are all seasonal in nature, and all on the Southwest side.  Seasonal eliminations are between Seattle/Tacoma and both Atlanta and Nashville; Las Vegas and both Cleveland and Norfolk; and between Ft. Lauderdale/Hollywood and Phoenix.  And just as we did in the August schedule, we’re re-directing an AirTran market, as we’ll end service between Des Moines and Milwaukee and simultaneously add new nonstop service between Des Moines and Chicago Midway. 

Besides those changes, we’ll be making minor frequency changes on both networks—48 roundtrip markets will change for Southwest (resulting in a system net decrease of nine daily roundtrips), and 28 roundtrip markets will change on the AirTran system (net system decrease of eight daily roundtrips).  Aircraft conversion from AirTran to Southwest continues, with one former AirTran 737-700 entering Southwest service in mid-October.  There are also other exciting fleet changes coming throughout October, as we’re planning to increase the number of 737-800s flying the Southwest network by two to 24, and the number of 737-700s configured with the amazing Evolve interiors is planned to grow to over 200!

Coming up, the next schedule opening will be perhaps the biggest of the year, as our November/December schedule is planned to open for sale on May 21.  This (of course!) will include the Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Holidays, and that open-for-sale date could change, so feel free check the date on southwest.com as we get closer.  Until then, enjoy the winter and start planning those Fall 2012 trips now—and thanks for your business.  Have a great week!    

13 Comments
pacotechguy
Explorer B
My wife and I travel to and from Northwest Indiana via Ohare to Des Moines currently on another carrier to visit her family often. I can't wait for the Southwest service to start to Des Moines, Ia!! I fly SWA every week for work; and can't wait to see the service begin into DSM!! Do you have a date that the DSM to MDW daily roundtrips will make the transition from Air Tran to Southwest?? Thanks, and I LUV these announcements!!
tesg
Explorer C
Am I reading that correctly? You'll have taken deliver on 24 737-800's by October?
Amfaam
Explorer C
There is a gaping whole in your services...when will you add somewhere like Billings, Montana? Would be nice to get to that part of the world on Southwest!
Rodney_Love
Explorer C
Can you please add nonstops to San Jose, CA (SJC) from Atlanta? Delta has a monopoly on this city pair and the fares are too high and not enough options. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE
kath1
Explorer C
Will there be any more summer sales? We are flying to PHX in Jun and didn't know if we should book now or hold out a bit longer for cheaper summer flights? thanks
stove
Explorer A
Bill - why does the schedule only open through Friday? Makes it hard to plan a trip that weekend, which I am. I can book my outbound flight, but not a Sunday 11/4 return. Thanks, Steve
William_J_krava
Explorer C
My wife and I travel at least 3 times a year to Bangor Maine from Portland Oregon is there any future hope that you will fly into Bangor? We have flown into Manchester N H in the past the burden of being picked up is just too great, 4.5 hrs one way.I just hate having to fly U.S, Air. Thanks Bill Kravas
Matt_S_
Explorer C
I'm so happy that Southwest has announced its first service out of Des Moines! What I'm hoping for now is that SWA might add another city, but out west, in the near future. It would be great to see a couple of flights from Des Moines to Denver or Des Moines to Phoenix, even if they're not every single day. I think SWA will be very happy with the number of people who will use your airline from central Iowa. I hope you do some local advertising so the public is aware they can soon use you from DSM! Thanks!!
Anita_W_
Explorer C
Welcome to DSM. Hoping to see DSM-DEN routes!
Drew_H
Explorer C
When are you planning to facilitate code-sharing between Air Tran and Southwest? I find it very shocking that you're planning to replace Air Tran routes with your own metal while failing to implement effective code sharing agreement. It seems this will only sever connectivity in Atlanta and worsen the financials of Air Tran if they are unable to carry passengers from Southwest Airlines flights. I'm a loyal customer and supporter of Southwest Airlines, but it seems pretty archaic that you have not implemented an effective seamless code sharing system. Other carriers that have merged (United & Continental, Delta & Northwest) have made the merger process seamless by allowing code sharing connectivity while finalizing the merger.
jeffrey-sigmon
Explorer C
How about some LUV in New Orleans? Bring back MSY-Oakland and MSY-San Diego!! I miss these flights. I won't fly United.
Katie10
Explorer C
When will SW open travel to Des Moines from Houston? Any deals coming in the Summer? Looking to travel the beginning of May.
lilj
Explorer C
What happened to the next round of flights opening on the 21st? It's already the 23rd!