Date: 2/9/2007 8:00:00 AM
Carrier Says Airport's Efficiency and Cost Improvements Key in Decision to
Return
DALLAS, Feb. 9 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Southwest Airlines today
announced its intent to resume service at San Francisco International
Airport. The carrier has not released specific service details or a
timeline, only saying that it is currently in discussions with the Airport
and that it aims to return to the West Bay in a meaningful way in the
early fall.
"San Francisco International is the only major Bay Area airport we
don't currently serve, having made a very difficult decision in 2001 to
cease service there after nearly 20 years. Today, SFO has improved
operationally and is a more cost-efficient airport, and Southwest is a far
larger airline than it was in 2001 and better able to support this type of
operation," said Gary Kelly, Southwest's Vice Chairman and CEO.
For photos and Southwest's California facts, visit:
http://www.southwest.com/about_swa/press/070209_san_francisco.html?ref=sfo_pre
ss_070208 .
Southwest Airlines initiated service at SFO in October 1982 with four
nonstop flights to Las Vegas, with direct or connecting service to cities
like Houston, El Paso, Albuquerque, and Austin. At the time it ceased
service on March 4, 2001, Southwest had 14 nonstop departures to San Diego
and Phoenix.
"The business reasons for leaving San Francisco in 2001 were clear,"
Kelly said. "Back then, facility and runway constraints meant we could not
compete and be profitable, and there was no growth potential beyond the 14
flights we had at the time. Frankly, we had demand at our other
California airports that we knew would be successful. It made more sense
to leave.
"The Airport Commission, under the leadership of Mayor Gavin Newsom
and Commission President Larry Mazzola, has made SFO a more attractive
venue for true low fare carriers like Southwest. Working closely with SFO
Director John L. Martin, Southwest was excited to learn of the
constructive changes at SFO, so now it makes even more sense to return."
Mayor Newsom welcomed the news, saying: "this is a big win for Bay
Area passengers, particularly those located on the Peninsula and in San
Francisco, as they will no longer have to travel across the Bay Bridge to
avail themselves of Southwest's vast network. It makes environmental sense
for passengers to avail themselves of the airports nearest their homes."
Southwest says today's announcement does not affect its commitment at
Oakland International, where it has 142 daily departures; or Norman Y
Mineta San Jose International, where it has 77 daily departures.
"Similar to the Washington, D.C., metro area where we serve
Baltimore/Washington International and Washington Dulles International; or
the Los Angeles area where we serve LAX, Ontario, Burbank, and Orange
County; or the Boston metro area where we serve from Providence, RI and
Manchester, NH; the Bay Area is large enough to support complementary
service from three airports," Kelly said. "We've never questioned that."
Southwest says it will release more details of its future service to
San Francisco in the coming months.
For the tenth year in a row, FORTUNE magazine recognized Southwest
Airlines in its annual survey of corporate reputations. Among all
industries in 2006, FORTUNE has listed Southwest Airlines as number three
among America's Top Ten most admired corporations.
http://www.southwest.com <pre> SOURCE Southwest Airlines Co.
-0- 02/09/2007
/CONTACT: Public Relations of Southwest Airlines Co., +1-214-792-4847/
/Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20040715/DATH028-a
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20010718/SWNULOOK
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20010724/SWALOGO
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx /
/Web site: http://www.southwest.com /
(LUV)
CO: Southwest Airlines Co.; San Francisco International Airport
ST: Texas, California
IN: AIR TRA LEI
SU:
KM-AA
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