US low-cost carrier Southwest Airlines has announced that it is to expand its network offering from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport next year with two additional non-stop services to Las Vegas and Phoenix. The new routes will be operated on a daily basis from March 10, 2012.
Southwest revealed last month that it will inaugurate flights from Atlanta on February 15, 2012 with 15 daily flights to five destinations – Austin, Baltimore/Washington, Chicago Midway, Denver and Houston Hobby. This latest expansion represents a further boost to its new market.
"An expansion like this quickly solidifies our commitment to the Atlanta market before we've actually started service there," said Bob Jordan, Executive Vice President of Strategy and Planning, Southwest Airlines and President AirTran Airways. "We are proud to showcase our robust route map connecting the Atlanta market to more than 50 Southwest cities."
The Atlanta market is currently dominated by Delta Air Lines which is headquartered in the city. The airline currently accounts for 77 per cent of the total weekly seat capacity from Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport with almost 6,500 weekly departures offering almost 850,000 seats.
From next March, Southwest Airlines will offer a total of 153 weekly flights from the airport, which will immediately place it as the fourth largest operator at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport with more than 20,000 weekly seats on offer from the city. Its sister carrier AirTran Airways already has a strong presence there and once the two airlines come under a single Air Operator’s Certificate (AOC) - estimated for a March 1, 2012 completion – they will hold a much stronger position. This growth is a clear sign that even the ultra low-cost LCCs are now looking at serving primary airports.
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