WN announces PHX-MSP/BOS

[Alex T]

Southwest Airlines has just announced 2 new markets to PHX...

2 daily PHX-MSP round trip starting August 15th
1 daily PHX-BOS round trip starting September 7th

DALLAS, April 27, 2010 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ --Southwest Airlines today announced the carrier is starting two new nonstop routes to its operation at Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX).

PHX - Minneapolis/St. Paul International Airport (MSP)

Beginning August 15, 2010, Southwest will begin two daily nonstops between PHX-MSP. The carrier is offering these new flights with introductory fares as low as $99 one-way when purchased from April 27 through April 29, 2010, 11:59 p.m. Pacific Daylight Time (see Fare Rules for more information). When shopping for Southwest online, it's important to know that Southwest Airlines' low fares are available only at www.southwest.com. This is the fourth nonstop destination served out of MSP since its opening in March 2009. It currently offers nonstop service to Chicago (Midway) (MDW), Denver International Airport (DEN), and Lambert-St. Louis International Airport (STL).

PHX - Boston Logan International Airport (BOS)

Beginning September 7, 2010, Southwest will begin one daily nonstop between PHX - BOS. This complements its service from both T. F. Green Airport (PVD) in Providence and Manchester-Boston Regional Airport (MHT) in Manchester, New Hampshire. Both MHT and PVD offer one daily nonstop flight to PHX. This marks the sixth announced daily nonstop destination served out of BOS since its opening in August 2009. It currently offers nonstop service to Chicago (Midway) (MDW), Baltimore/Washington International Airport (BWI), Denver International Airport (DEN), Lambert-St. Louis International Airport (STL), and Philadelphia International Airport (service scheduled to begin June 27, 2010).

To get more information on today's announcement and to read a blog post from Lead Schedule Planner Bill Owen, visit: blogsouthwest.com.

In addition, WN has decided to EXTEND BWI-LAX to october 30th, due to high bookings for the summer. It was due to end August 30th, but they have now extended it to October 30th.

Alex

[LGA777]

Not to question the hugely successful Southwest's logic but why would you start a transcon or in this case near transcon (BOS-PHX) in early Sept? September and October have always been the slowest (by far) months for east-west travel demand, case in point remember how light the pax loads (thankfully) on Sept 11, 2001 ?

Regards

LGA777

[Alex T]

Not to question the hugely successful Southwest's logic but why would you start a transcon or in this case near transcon (BOS-PHX) in early Sept? September and October have always been the slowest (by far) months for east-west travel demand, case in point remember how light the pax loads (thankfully) on Sept 11, 2001 ?

Regards

LGA777

Provides more access to the southwest destinations out of PHX, more so to compliment the DEN connections too. DEN handles pacific northwest and west while PHX handles the southwest area for connections out of BOS.

WN pointed out there is a demand in itself for BOS-PHX alone, US has a monopoly on the route since B6 pulled out of BOS-PHX awhile back. Walk Up fares on US are priced a bit higher than WN's, in fact a LOT higher than WN. Tomorrow US is 539, WN is 165.

When I checked the schedules, September 7th and beyond is when WN plans to implement the Winter schedule. So I think it is starting in the fall to allow it to grow and build up during the slow months so when winter starts, boom, people are looking at WN to PHX non stop.

Alex

[Matt Molnar]

Haven't researched myself, but from what I've heard these new flights offer some pretty good connections to Calif. service, also.