I agree with the previous writer. This is a huge mistake for Southwest. You continue to shed all of the unique characteristics that made your customers fiercely loyal in your quest to make more money. That's the difference between Gary and Herb. The latter was all about the LUV, and the dough rolled in; the former is just all about the dough--no fun intended.
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Just as a point of information, the judge's last name is LeBlanc (no "h" on the end), a well-known family name in Beaumont, where I was reared. I went to school with several members of the LeBlanc family and remember the era when Richard was the county judge.
I also remember the very brief time period when BPT had Southwest service. Some years prior to the arrival of Southwest, BPT had been very excited to have jet service from Delta and Texas International, because we were used to only getting the most ancient props. In 1967, the biggest plane to fly into BPT was a DC-6, and jet service didn't start until many years later.
I thought Southwest's arrival meant BPT was finally getting recognized as a growing metropolis, but I was wrong and so was Southwest, so the decision to pull out was probably wise. Not long after deregulation took hold, BPT pretty much lost all of its scheduled commercial service--and the jets were the first to depart. Now, it's back to props.
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