Southwest to close unprofitable routes
Southwest Airlines will close three southern cities on its network next year.
On June 7, 2014, operations at Branson Airport, Missouri; Key West International Airport, Florida and Jackson-Evers International Airport, Mississippi, will cease.
Southwest began service to Jackson-Evers International in 1997, and added Branson Airport and Key West International Airport in 2012 as part of its integration with AirTran.
Executive vice president and chief commercial officer Bob Jordan said: "The level of local demand no longer allows Southwest to profitably serve these markets.
He added: "These decisions are never easy."
Elsewhere on its network, Southwest has acquired 12 takeoff and landing slots – for six roundtrip flights – at New York’s LaGuardia Airport.
The slots have been divested by American Airlines as part of its merger with US Airways.
In addition, Southwest gained permanent control of 10 takeoff and landing slots (for five roundtrip flights) that it currently operates under a lease from American.
The airline is also bidding for slots at Washington’s Reagan National Airport.
Lisa
Lisa joined Travel Weekly nearly 25 years ago as technology reporter and then sailed around the world for a couple of years as cruise correspondent, before becoming deputy editor. Now freelance, Lisa writes for various print and web publications, edits Corporate Traveller’s client magazine, Gateway, and works on the acclaimed Remembering Wildlife series of photography books, which raise awareness of nature’s most at-risk species and helps to fund their protection.
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