Airtran wins MDW-CUN route authority

[Flying the Line]

Parent Southwest Airlines announced Thursday that the U.S. Department of Transportation had awarded a Chicago-Cancun, Mexico, route to AirTran Airways.

AirTran and Frontier in January had sought the route, with AirTran planning to fly from Midway Airport and Frontier proposing to fly from O'Hare International Airport.

With U.S. approval, AirTran just needs Mexican government approval to proceed with the service, scheduled to begin June 3 subject to that okay.

"We are excited to offer all AirTran Airways Customers this new opportunity to travel to Mexico," said Bob Jordan, Southwest executive vice president and chief commercial officer and AirTran Airways president.

"The additional international service to Cancun is a great example of how customers are already realizing the benefits of Southwest's acquisition of AirTran," Jordan said.

The DOT had issued a preliminary order in March giving AirTran the route, and made that decision final Thursday. Frontier was given backup authority.

The route became available under the U.S.-Mexico bilateral after U.S. carrier USA 3000 Airlines told DOT that it would end its U.S.-Mexico services on Jan. 30.

 

[get2flyin]

Wait, what nobody reply until I finish making popcorn.

 

[redflyer65]

Great news!

 

[fam62c]

Great news!

If SW gets the approval for international flying from Hobby and then the Wright Amendment loosens up in 2014 they may need more planes than they have now, that would be a good thing.

 

[FurloughedAgain]

It's a shame the Love terminal remodel won't have more gates, because when Wright goes away, that market potential will be enormous.

 

[rjfo]

It's a shame the Love terminal remodel won't have more gates, because when Wright goes away, that market potential will be enormous.

No international from luv field...one more lets stick it to them!

 

[FurloughedAgain]

Even domestic think of the opportunities. Chicago, Boston, Philly, BWI, Atlanta, LA, SFO, Seattle... Dallas is a HUGE market with very little low fare competition and Love is ideally located for business travelers.

 

[On Your Six]

Even domestic think of the opportunities. Chicago, Boston, Philly, BWI, Atlanta, LA, SFO, Seattle... Dallas is a HUGE market with very little low fare competition and Love is ideally located for business travelers.

DFW airport is located nearby. There is room in the new INTL terminal on the West side for you.


Godspeed!


The OYSter

 

[MINIME]

If SW gets the approval for international flying from Hobby and then the Wright Amendment loosens up in 2014 they may need more planes than they have now, that would be a good thing.

I agree,

This is what I alluted to when the Airtran merger was announced. For now Airtran has the means and SWA has the name and brand recognition. You combine those two and you have formidable opportunities.

If.....they get their way out of HOU, it could become very, very profitable for SWA. There are lots of people in Texas that travel down south. Not just Mexico by the way. Gordon Bethune knew this during his tenure, and embraced and dominated that market. While AMR had a huge print as well, I still believe CAL was more popular.

 

[Captain Morgan]

It's going to be great when SWA is the only airline left and the masters of the slave ships will hike the prices up. People will look around in amazement and wonder, WTF happened? Where's tha LUV?!