New Destinations Wishlist/Suggestions or Feasible Options

[5280Av8r]

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.

[dfwskier]

That's quite a list.

I'd suggest that you pare it down to those you feel most passionate about and send the suggestion to SW:

https://community.southwest.com/t5/Knowledge-Base/Submitting-a-Suggestion-and-or-Complaint/ta-p/8724...

[bec102896]

I would love to see Daytona Beach FL (DAB) added someday personally I think it's a much more relaxing airport experience than MCO during the busy holidays not as crowded and I can get through security in no time. It's also not too far from Disney for those who want to do a beach then Disney vacation. 

-Blake

[SWFlyer007]

I'd add Alcapulco, MX (sp) and if you're doing Canada, add Montreal and Toronto.  

[MontanaCurt]

Kalispell MT

The flights in/out of Kalispell (FCA) are jammed and expensive seasonally. SWST could make this market so much more competitve. The FCA airport is being expanded and northwest MT is growing fast. As with most locations, SWST could really make an impact there. Though it's jammed seasonally, there is significant traffic and need in non peak periods. We fly into Spokane (GEG) and make the 4 hour drive. Though beautiful, it's still a 4 hour drive! SWST could control the Northwest Montana market! 

[Takedown]

San Diego- Fresno Isn't that the type of route that should be in the next schedule?

[MontanaCurt]

I think at least a seasonal to Kalispell for Glacier Park would be nice. Alaska Air and others really take advantage of people (prices) during the seasonal tourist time. Southwest could relly bring some pricing sanity to the market. 

[DancingDavidE]

Save this list somewhere!