Southwest Airlines Celebrates One Year in Philadelphia
'What a Difference a Year Makes'
Philadelphia, PA (PRWEB) May 9, 2005 -- Southwest Airlines (NYSE: LUV) and
its 133 Philadelphia-based Employees are celebrating the carrier's first year of
service and success at Philadelphia International Airport today.
"What a
difference a year makes," said Southwest Airlines Chief Executive Officer Gary
Kelly. "As we expected, we entered the Philadelphia market and fares dropped
while overall traffic increased. It's the 'Southwest Effect' at work, and we
couldn't be happier about the warm reception we have received in
Philly."
Southwest Airlines began service to Philadelphia International
Airport on May 9, 2004, with 14 daily nonstop flights to six cities. In just one
year, Southwest Airlines' service from Philadelphia International Airport has
blossomed - marking the fastest growing new city launch in Southwest Airlines'
history. Today, Southwest Airlines offers 46 daily nonstop flights from
Philadelphia to 17 cities across the United States.
Other exciting
Philadelphia statistics:
* Since Southwest Airlines entered the Philadelphia
market, total Philadelphia traffic has increased nearly 30 percent.
* In
just one year, Southwest Airlines has grown to capture nearly 10 percent of the
Philadelphia market share.
* Since Southwest Airlines entered the
Philadelphia market, traffic between Philadelphia and Providence has increased
by 859 percent or more than 90,000 passengers, while the average one-way fare
paid by these passengers has plummeted from $259 to $44, a decrease of 83
percent.
* Since Southwest Airlines entered the Philadelphia market, traffic
between Philadelphia and Manchester, N.H., has increased by 828 percent or more
than 75,000 passengers, while the average one-way fare paid by these passengers
has dropped from $245 to $43, a decrease of 82 percent.
* In the third
quarter of 2004, the average one-way fare between Philadelphia and Chicago
Midway fell 46 percent, while traffic increased by 137 percent. In addition, the
average one-way fare between Philadelphia and Chicago O'Hare (an airport that
Southwest Airlines does not serve) fell 44 percent, while traffic increased by
28 percent, showing that Southwest Airlines' arrival in new markets benefits
sister airports and other airlines.
* Since Southwest Airlines entered the
Philadelphia market, one-way fares between Philadelphia and Raleigh-Durham,
N.C., have dropped 74 percent; one-way fares between Philadelphia and Phoenix
have dropped 33 percent; one-way fares between Philadelphia and Los Angeles have
dropped 33 percent; one-way fares between Philadelphia and Las Vegas have
dropped 27 percent; and one-way fares between Philadelphia and Tampa Bay have
dropped 20 percent.
* Since Southwest Airlines entered the Philadelphia
market, traffic to Houston Hobby, Oakland, and Raleigh-Durham, N.C., has
increased by triple digits, while the average one-way fare on these routes has
declined between 40 and 70 percent.
"Our Employees deserve all of the
credit for bringing our service and low fares to the people of Philadelphia,"
said Greg Wells, Southwest Airlines Vice President of Ground Operations. "They
have worked their tails off this past year, and they are going to celebrate this
week."
Philadelphia-based members of Southwest Airlines Rapid Rewards
frequent flyer program have reason to celebrate as well. Rapid Rewards Members
flying out of Philadelphia International Airport on May 9, 2005, will receive a
bonus credit in honor of Southwest Airlines' first anniversary in
Philadelphia.
"The people of Philadelphia have been so good to us," said
John Minor, Southwest Airlines Philadelphia Station Manager. "The additional
Rapid Rewards credit is a token of our sincere gratitude for welcoming us into
the city."
Southwest Airlines thanks the people and travelers of
Philadelphia for a wonderful year and looks forward to many more years of growth
and success in the city. Southwest Airlines, the nation's largest airline in
terms of domestic Customers boarded, currently serves 60 cities in 31 states.
Based in Dallas, Southwest Airlines currently operates nearly 3,000 flights a
day. The carrier began service to Pittsburgh, its newest city, on May
4.
To take advantage of Southwest Airlines' super low fares, Customers
who book their travel via the Internet can subscribe to Southwest Airline's
Click 'n Save email updates as well as Southwest Airlines' newest
technological innovation-DING! DING! delivers Southwest Airlines' hottest deals
directly to Customers' desktops allowing Customers to get a jump on the latest
southwest.com sales! For more information, visit http://www.southwest.com//ding/?src=PR_PHL_0505 .
http://www.southwest.com
Media Contact:
Public
Relations of Southwest
Airlines
+1-214-792-4847
Customers
+1-800-I-FLY-SWA or
+1-800-435-9792
en Espanol
+1-800-VAMONOS or +1-800-826-6667
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Source : http://www.prweb.com/releases/2005/5/prweb238618.htm