Gary Kelly announces the next SWA city is...

[JayhawkDude]

SFO

Southwest today announced our intent to resume service at San Francisco International Airport. While we have not released specific service details or a timeline, we are currently in discussions with the Airport, and we aim 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,” said Gary. “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.”
We initiated service at SFO in October 1982 with four nonstop flights to LAS, with direct or connecting service to cities like HOU, ELP, ABQ, and AUS. At the time we ceased service on March 4, 2001, we had 14 nonstops to SAN and PHX.
“The business reasons for leaving San Francisco in 2001 were clear,” said Gary. “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.”
Today’s announcement does not affect our commitment at OAK, where we have 142 daily departures; or SJC, where we have 76 daily departures.
“Similar to the Washington, D.C., metro area where we serve BWI and IAD; or the Los Angeles area where we serve LAX, ONT, BUR, and SNA; or the Boston metro area where we serve from PVD and MHT; the Bay Area is large enough to support complementary service from three airports. We’ve never questioned that.”
Stay tuned! We will release more details of our future service to SFO in the coming months.

 

[737ski]

Thankfully, we won't see Nancy Pelosi on any of those flights since she requires a 757 to remind her of how important she is...

 

[Jim Smyth]

That too bad. I hated flying into that place! Real PITA!

 

[roughneck]

Can you say, "Hello Sir Richard Branson?"

I didn't think we would hang around on the sidelines and see if he gets off the ground. We will be there waiting for them if they do get off the ground.

I heard 2 more cities this year. LGA and ??????????

 

[GuppyWN]

Wow. I'm sure United will welcome us back with open arms.

I predict LAX, PHX, LAS.

Gup

 

[IronCityBlue]

Thankfully, we won't see Nancy Pelosi on any of those flights since she requires a 757 to remind her of how important she is...

We won't see her on us either, you know, since we occasionally have to make a *gasp!* fuel stop.

Oh the humanity!

 

[Skater]

About a month ago I was in PHX on a turn and they were paging Nancy Pelosi for one of our SWA flights to IAD. I am being totally serious and it really surprised me. I find it hard to believe there is more than one of her out there (thank god).

 

[mach zero]

Can we please keep this thread on track about SWA going back to KSFO and out of the political arena?

 

[JAM-BRO]

SWA thanks for putting the 'beginning of the end' on VA.

 

[Vingus]

Jetblue just announced flights out of SFO as well. Is SWA trying to put a cap on VA or JB?

 

[TriStar_drvr]

Need to feed ATA's DC-10s when they start doing Hawaii runs out of SFO this summer...

 

[Hair-on-Fire]

Thankfully, we won't see Nancy Pelosi on any of those flights since she requires a 757 to remind her of how important she is...

Might want to stop letting FOX do your thinking for you:

http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/02/09/pelosi.plane/index.html

 

[Charlie Brown]

It's "Faux" News.

 

[CF34-3B1]

Can you say, "Hello Sir Richard Branson?"

I didn't think we would hang around on the sidelines and see if he gets off the ground. We will be there waiting for them if they do get off the ground.

I heard 2 more cities this year. LGA and ??????????

CUN...

 

[180ToTheMarker]

It's "Faux" News.

Its better than the "Communist News Network" or "PMSNBC."

 

[Bigoober]

Might want to stop letting FOX do your thinking for you:

http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/02/09/pelosi.plane/index.html

Funny, it was the New York Times that was talked about in the article above. Sounds like a little green on green.

Last time I looked across the runways, the Air Force have a few aircraft able to make it non-stop that aren't as large as a 757. Of course, a few of those aren't going to carry the entourage that is being reported as needed.

I wonder what Murtha is going to report on his "necessary" trips.

 

[Hair-on-Fire]

Funny, it was the New York Times that was talked about in the article above. Sounds like a little green on green.

.

The article didn't mention the NY Times. It was the Washington Times.

 

[Bigoober]

Touche.

 

[737ski]

Might want to stop letting FOX do your thinking for you:

http://www.cnn.com/2007/POLITICS/02/09/pelosi.plane/index.html

I have flown her before & nothing will suprise me...

 

[BobbyB]

What gov't aircraft can't make it from Andrews to SFO? I am pretty sure that the G-IV's and 737's can. Am I missing something?

 

[Dizel8]

Why does she need an goverment airplane at all, flying on a commercial carrier isn't safe enough?

Don't get me wrong, the President I can see, but the rest of the riffraff in goverment, let them fly commercial or have their buddies with G-V ferry them around.

 

[roughneck]

Why does she need an goverment airplane at all, flying on a commercial carrier isn't safe enough?

They don't want a 65 year old flying them.

 

[CaptJax]

SWA Will Resume SFO Service In The Fall



Southwest will resume SFO service in the fall

Destinations of discount airline's planned 14 daily departures are not yet determined, CEO says


David Armstrong, Chronicle Staff Writer
Friday, February 9, 2007

Southwest Airlines, the nation's largest discount carrier, plans to resume service at San Francisco International Airport this fall, more than six years after pulling out of SFO because of what the airline said were unacceptable flight delays, high costs and curbs on growth.
Finally, those issues have been resolved, Southwest Chief Executive Officer Gary Kelly said Thursday, prompting the airline to return to SFO with a still-unannounced roster of destinations and a promise of cheap, as yet unspecified introductory fares.
When Southwest returns this fall, it will begin with at least 14 daily departures and a mix of short, medium and long flights, he said.
Southwest will continue to serve Mineta San Jose International Airport, where it operates 76 daily departures, and Oakland International Airport, where it has built a strong following and has 142 daily departures. Indeed, Southwest will continue to expand in those airports, "especially Oakland,'' Kelly said, "where we will be getting four more gates this year.''
Of the return to SFO, Kelly said, "I'm very excited. We are the largest intra-California carrier. San Francisco is by far the largest airport we don't serve. It is a very attractive destination for our customers.''
SFO's director, John Martin, praised the return of Southwest, easily the nation's most profitable airline, with 122 consecutive profitable quarters. The Dallas carrier pulled out of SFO in March 2001, when it operated 14 daily departures and has since, in Kelly's accounting, doubled in size nationally.
"We're very pleased to have Southwest back at SFO,'' Martin said. "It's good for the customer, especially in San Francisco and San Mateo counties. It will create a more competitive fare environment.''
Last month, low-cost carrier JetBlue Airways said it will start service from SFO May 3 with flights to New York's John F. Kennedy airport.
"Southwest, JetBlue and Virgin America (still awaiting government approval to fly) are all seeing that there are opportunities at SFO. Fares to some destinations have been so high, there is untapped potential,'' Martin said.
SFO has been pursuing low-cost carriers since the dot-com meltdown and terrorist attacks of 2001 drove away nearly a third of its business, but has had spotty success. AirTran Airways, Frontier Airlines and Midwest Airlines fly from San Francisco, but ATA went bankrupt and Independence Air folded its wings.
Martin said he has been wooing Southwest for the last year and a half. SFO's landing fees and other airport charges have been slashed 30 percent over the past five years, Martin said, and that helped persuade Southwest to return.
"John Martin has done a very fine job in getting the costs down,'' said Kelly, adding SFO now has more gates available than in its busiest years, when Southwest felt hemmed-in. Kelly also noted that SFO has installed improved technology, helping aircraft to safely operate in bad weather.
"I fully expect that the 'Southwest effect' will work very well (to lower fares of other airlines), once we return to SFO,'' Kelly said.
Southwest will operate out of Terminal 1, while JetBlue and Virgin America (should it get permission to begin flying) will use gates in the International Terminal.
With business gradually recovering, Martin said, SFO is dusting off plans to renovate Terminal 2 (the old international terminal), which has been closed since December 2001, when the new International Terminal opened.
E-mail David Armstrong at [email protected].

This article appeared on page C - 1 of the San Francisco Chronicle
Ads by Google

 

[Oh-ryan]

Why does she need an goverment airplane at all, flying on a commercial carrier isn't safe enough?

Don't get me wrong, the President I can see, but the rest of the riffraff in goverment, let them fly commercial or have their buddies with G-V ferry them around.

It pains me to say this, but as the #3 in line for the top job, she should have a secure means of travel. It's not that the majors aren't secure forms of transportation. When I say "secure" I mean as in an aircraft that has a secure communications suite for encrypted voice and datalink.

Now, does she need a USAF 757 or 737... heck no. There are plently of USAF Gulfstream aircraft that will satisfy her desire to go coast to coast non-stop. This way she will never have to set foot in Illinois... oh the horror!

 

[jonjuan]

It pains me to say this, but as the #3 in line for the top job, she should have a secure means of travel. It's not that the majors aren't secure forms of transportation. When I say "secure" I mean as in an aircraft that has a secure communications suite for encrypted voice and datalink.

Now, does she need a USAF 757 or 737... heck no. There are plently of USAF Gulfstream aircraft that will satisfy her desire to go coast to coast non-stop. This way she will never have to set foot in Illinois... oh the horror!

You said it much more politically than I could have. Dizel's comment is the most idiodic I have seen. Let me guess Dizel, you pay her salary, so she should have to travel standby coach, huh? As much as it pains me to see this moderate socialist in charge of the House, her position calls for the utmost respect as it relates to our democracy.
More than likely, she doesn't want to fly on the bowling alley they call the Gulfstream. Certainly too narrow for her head.

 

[Benjamin Dover]

What gov't aircraft can't make it from Andrews to SFO? I am pretty sure that the G-IV's and 737's can. Am I missing something?

YGBSM. Plenty of Unclass info out there dude on VIP travel. Plenty of non ADW-SFO capable too.

 

[BobbyB]

YGBSM. Plenty of Unclass info out there dude on VIP travel. Plenty of non ADW-SFO capable too.

I am aware that US Customs Cessna 210's are going to be off the table, C-12(Kingair) as well. Of the executive travel aircraft they keep at Andrews or might use for executive travel, maybe I should have said. Even C-9s have tanks to get them to Europe/Asia(I don't think they have all been replaced by the 73 yet), as do the 73's, Gulfstreams go all over the world... If you are going to "YGTBSM" then please do enlighten us....Show me how stupid I am. You appear to have some answers so let's hear 'em.

 

[Terp737]

No C-9s left at KADW. Don't think G-IIIs have the range, G-Vs do. We won't let her on the mighty 737.

 

[canyonblue]

I saw this one coming. As Southwest sees it's hedges becoming less powerful they will have to press into these airports to compete. Costs are rising and Gary has to move the money around.

Not really what I think but I'm just filling in for Lowecur until he replies. :smash:

 

[CF34-3B1]

I saw this one coming. As Southwest sees it's hedges becoming less powerful they will have to press into these airports to compete. Costs are rising and Gary has to move the money around.

Not really what I think but I'm just filling in for Lowecur until he replies. :smash:

Now if you were REALLY filling in for Lowecur, you would have said "....they will have to press into these airports to compete with the mighty E190....."