4 weeks ago
1 Love
I definitely think you're on the right track. I'd probably say this: OAK/SJC/SMF (WN's main NoCal airports) - The latter two may not be at the start. But these will provide connections for Hawaii flights plus connections to Portland and Seattle though Alaska offers direct service, also provides connections for Boise SNA or LGB or LAX - Los Angeles metro area, I don't see them serving all right now, just one, I don't think they'll do LAX due to capacity at the airport as well as cost. DEN/PHX - Connections further east (Texas, Midwest, East Coast) LAS - Tourism of Vegas of course plus an addition connection point for further east cities SAN - Business and Hawaii flights as well as general travel and some connections DAL/MDW - These may not be at the start or may be seasonal but I definitely see the opportunity for these two airports to have a direct connection to FAT on WN I think it will be pretty similar destinations for Santa Barbara minus Las Vegas if in the future if it's successful; however, at the start I think it will be like PSP with DEN/OAK/PHX
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4 weeks ago
4 weeks ago
With Southwest trying out some more seasonal leisure markets with the introduction of Hayden/Steamboat Springs and Montrose/Telluride, I think there are some other opportunities if they continue down this path. Some of these could be done even if they decide to back out of these leisure markets. I'll put these roughly in order of likelihood and somewhat off of personal suggestion. Let's Start with Domestic Destinations Fresno (FAT) - Announced they could start service next year Probably served from Denver, Oakland, Phoenix, Sacramento and San Jose, maybe Orange County, Las Vegas, San Diego, and Dallas and/or Chicago Santa Barbara (SBA) - Announced they could start service next year Probably served from Denver, Oakland, Phoenix, Sacramento, San Jose, maybe San Diego seasonally from Dallas/Houston, Chicago Myrtle Beach (MYR) - Summer tourism Probably from Atlanta, Baltimore, Nashville, seasonal from Chicago, Dallas, Houston Bozeman, MT (BZN) - Year round tourism for Yellowstone and Skiing plus business and the city is growing Probably served by Denver, seasonally from Chicago, Phoenix, maybe Dallas Knoxville, TN (TYS) - Large enough metro and some tourism Probably served by Baltimore, Chicago, Houston Syracuse, NY (SYR) - Decent metro/Compliment Rochester Probably Served by Baltimore, Orlando, Tampa, Ft Myers Daytona Beach, FL (DAY) - Winter get away Probably served by Atlanta, Baltimore, Chicago, Houston, Nashville, St. Louis, seasonal from others like IND, CMH, PIT, etc Springfield, MO (SGF) - Business as well as general point-to-point travel Probably served by Denver, Las Vegas, Phoenix, Chicago/Houston/Dallas Harrisburg, PA (MDT) - Business as well as another point for leisure routes to the south (Florida) Probably served by Baltimore, Chicago, Orlando and seasonally by Tampa, Fort Lauderdale, Palm Beach Tallahassee, FL (TLH) - winter get away Probably served by Baltimore, Atlanta, Houston Mobile, AL (MOB) - Decent metro Probably served by Atlanta, Dallas, Houston, Orlando Roanoke, VA (ROA) - Large enough metro, similar to Richmond, VA Probably served by Atlanta, seasonal to Orlando, Tampa Kalispell, MT (FCA) - seasonal traffic Probably served seasonally by Denver, Chicago, Phoenix Bellingham, WA (BLI) - Descent tourism as well as Canadians from Vancouver Probably served by Denver, Oakland, seasonal to San Diego Eagle/Vail (EGE) - Winter skiing Probably served seasonally by Denver, Dallas Anchorage (ANC) - summer tourism Probably served seasonally by Oakland Bakersfield, CA (BFL) - continue expansion in central CA along with aforementioned Fresno Probably served by Oakland, Denver, Phoenix Missoula, MT (MSO) - Winter skiing, somewhat close to glacier still farther than FCA Probably served seasonally by Oakland, Denver Jackson Hole, WY (JAC) - Yellowstone plus winter skiing Probably served seasonally by Dallas, Denver Burlington, VT (BTV) - Seasonal traffic Probably served seasonally by Baltimore and Chicago Madison, WI (MSN) - A stretch as it could take traffic from MKE Probably served by Denver, Baltimore, Las Vegas Phoenix, and maybe Houston and seasonally to Orlando Wilmington, NC (ILM) - seasonal traffic for the beach Probably served by Baltimore, Atlanta, Nashville, Dallas, Orlando Sonoma County (STS) - Seasonal, don't plan on this happening Probably served by Denver, San Diego, Phoenix Let's look at international destinations: Ixtapa/Zihuatanejo (ZIH) from Houston, Phoenix, San Diego/LAX Santiago de Los Caballeros (STI) from Baltimore I think Mexico City should come back from Houston maybe Phoenix Guatemala City from Florida and/or Houston Managua, Nicaragua from Florida and/or Houston Calgary, Canada from Denver maybe Oakland, seasonal to Phoenix and San Diego Vancouver, Canada from Oakland, Denver, seasonal to Phoenix and San Diego Barranquilla/Bogota/Cali, Columbia (return of MAX) from Florida and/or Houston Santo Domingo from Baltimore Toronto, Canada from Baltimore, Chicago, Orlando, seasonal to Phoenix Montreal, Canada from Baltimore, Chicago, Orlando, seasonal to Phoenix Acapulco, Mexico from Phoenix, Los Angeles, Houston Mazatlán, Mexico from Phoenix, Los Angeles, Houston Manzanillo, Mexico from Phoenix/Los Angeles/San Diego Sint Maarten (SXM) - from Baltimore, maybe Florida Port-au-Prince, Haiti from Baltimore and/or Florida Panama City, Panama from Florida and/or Houston El Salvador, San Salvador from Florida and/or Houston Guayaquil, Ecuador - (return of MAX) from Florida or Houston Lima, Peru - (return of MAX) from Florida Wow, I didn't expect this list to be so exhaustive. In reality, I'm not sure if even an eighth of these will start anytime soon especially because there's so many opportunities to expand operations at existing destinations, but over the next 10 or more years, especially with the return of the MAX and trials at less populated leisure markets, I could definitely see some of these coming to fruition. What do y'all think. Feel free to add to this list or remove. Also, feel free to add emphasis on certain destinations.
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