Tag Archives: 7373H4

Southwest launches new service from Memphis, Pensacola and Richmond

Southwest Airlines (Dallas) launched new flights this weekend in three cities that join the carrier’s network through previously established service by wholly owned subsidiary AirTran Airways (Dallas). The new routes complete a plan to bring Southwest Airlines service to all domestic cities in the Company’s network by year’s end, as the integration of Southwest and AirTran approaches its final phases.

As of November 3, 2013, Southwest Airlines offers new nonstop service between:

Pensacola and Nashville and Houston (Hobby)

Richmond and Orlando

Memphis and Baltimore/Washington, Houston (Hobby), Orlando, Chicago (Midway), and Tampa.

AirTran will continue service between Atlanta and Richmond International Airport, with four daily nonstop departures. Southwest Airlines anticipates a full conversion in Richmond in the second half of 2014.

Copyright Photo: Ton Jochems/AirlinersGallery.com. Southwest Airlines’ Boeing 737-3H4 WL N352SW (msn 24888) in the Lone Star One motif lands in Las Vegas.

Southwest Airlines:

AirTran Airways:

Southwest to revamp its Atlanta schedules to better compete for business traffic against Delta

Southwest Airlines (Dallas) is changing its Atlanta operation in order to better compete against Delta Air Lines (Atlanta) for business customers. The airline, according to this Bloomberg report, will have no more than 20 aircraft on the ground at any time at ATL instead of current 30 (including the shrinking AirTran Airways). This will allow the 175 daily flights to be spread more evenly throughout the day according to the airline. The new strategy and schedule will become effective in November.

Read the full report: CLICK HERE

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AirTran Airways:

Grand Rapids to join the Southwest Airlines network on August 11

Southwest Airlines (Dallas) announced today that Grand Rapids, Michigan is the next AirTran Airways (Dallas) city to be converted to Southwest service. Those flights from Grand Rapids to Baltimore/Washington, Denver, Orlando, and Saint Louis will begin on August 11, 2013. AirTran service in Grand Rapids will end the previous day, August 10, 2013.

From Gerald R. Ford International Airport (GRR), fly Southwest Airlines Nonstop to:

(BWI) Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport
(DEN) Denver International Airport
(MCO) Orlando International Airport
(STL) Lambert-St. Louis International Airport

Additionally, AirTran expands operations in Memphis with new nonstop flights between Memphis and Chicago (Midway), Baltimore/Washington, and Orlando, beginning on August 11, 2013. In Memphis, AirTran currently offers five daily nonstop flights to Atlanta.

Southwest also will begin nonstop service between Flint, Michigan and Las Vegas starting on August 11, 2013. Bishop International Airport (FNT) in Flint is currently served by AirTran Airways and will convert to Southwest Airlines service on April 14, 2013. Inaugural service from Flint will also include nonstop service to Baltimore/Washington, Orlando, and Tampa Bay.

Top Copyright Photo: Eddie Maloney. Boeing 737-3H4 N609SW (msn 27929) in the California One motif lands at Las Vegas.

Southwest Airlines:

AirTran Airways:

Bottom Copyright Photo: Bruce Drum. Southwest Airlines is also phasing out the AirTran Airways’ Boeing 717 fleet. The 717s will gradually migrate to Delta Air Lines. Boeing 717-2BD N946AT (msn 55009) painted in the special livery of the world champion Baltimore Ravens of the National Football League (NFL) climbs away from the runway at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport (FLL).

Branson, Missouri to convert to a Southwest city on March 9

Southwest Airlines (Dallas) announced today the carrier will add a 79^th destination to its route map with service to Branson, Missouri, beginning in March 2013. Southwest starts service in Branson on March 9, 2013, with daily flights offering nonstop service to Dallas (Love), Houston (Hobby), and Chicago (Midway), and with Saturday-only service to Orlando. Southwest will assume all flying from AirTran Airways, its wholly owned subsidiary, with AirTran’s operations at Branson fully converting to Southwest Airlines.

Southwest’s Branson Service:

One daily nonstop flight between Branson and Dallas Love Field
One daily nonstop flight between Branson and Houston Hobby
One daily nonstop flight between Branson and Chicago Midway
One Saturday-only nonstop flight between Branson and Orlando

Southwest also announced today that the airline has extended its flight schedule for travel between March 9, 2013, and April 12, 2013. In the new schedule, Southwest will begin service between several markets as listed below. The carrier also will add seasonal service to this flight schedule to accommodate Spring Break travel.

Southwest’s new markets:

Two daily nonstop flights between Newark and Nashville
One daily nonstop flight between Newark and Austin
One daily nonstop flight between Newark and New Orleans
One daily nonstop flight between Dayton and Orlando
One daily nonstop flight between Key West and New Orleans

Copyright Photo: Brian McDonough. Boeing 737-3H4 N352SW (msn 24888) in the special Lone Star One livery arrives at Baltimore/Washington.

Southwest Slide Show:

New WN routes radiating from Branson:

Please click on the map for the full size.

Southwest to launch nonstop Nashville-New York LaGuardia flights on February 13

Southwest Airlines (Dallas) and its wholly owned subsidiary AirTran Airways announced today they extended their flight schedules for travel bookings through February 13, 2013. In the schedule, Southwest will begin new service between Nashville and New York LaGuardia with two daily nonstop flights. The carrier also will begin new seasonal routes as listed below:

Southwest’s new seasonal markets include:

One daily nonstop flight between Nashville and Ft. Myers
One daily nonstop flight between Ft. Lauderdale/Hollywood and Phoenix
One daily nonstop flight between Milwaukee and New Orleans
One daily nonstop flight between Ontario and Reno

Southwest Airlines:

Southwest Airlines and AirTran Airways aircraft maintenance technicians ratify Seniority Integration Agreement

Southwest Airlines (Dallas) announced the Aircraft Maintenance Technicians (AMT) from Southwest Airlines, represented by the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA), and AirTran Airways (Dallas), represented by the International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT) Local 528, voted to ratify their Seniority Integration Agreement. This agreement integrates the two groups’ seniority lists. Southwest Airlines finalized closing of the acquisition of AirTran Holdings, Inc., on May 2, 2011.

AMFA represents approximately 1,750 Southwest Airlines Aircraft Maintenance Technicians, and the IBT represents close to 500 Mechanics from AirTran Airways.

Today’s vote by the AMTs means they now join the Pilots, Flight Attendants, Flight Instructors, Dispatchers, and Ramp, Operations, Provisioning and Freight Agents as having successfully completed the Seniority Integration negotiation process. Work groups still in seniority integration negotiations include Customer Service Agents and Customer Support and Service Employees and Materials Specialists.

This moves the merger one step closer.

Top Copyright Photo: Bruce Drum.

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