Money talks, BS walks.:smash:
Southwest to add gate at DIA in '07
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By Chris Walsh, Rocky Mountain News
December 28, 2006
Southwest Airlines will lease a fifth gate at Denver International Airport this spring, a concrete sign that the carrier plans to add flights and destinations here.
The Dallas-based discount giant said it will take over gate C49 in March, although it hasn't announced plans for additional service.
"I don't think it's a secret that we intend to continue growing here," Dave LaPorte, Southwest's Denver station manager, said Wednesday.
AirTran Airways operates four daily flights at the gate, according to DIA's Web site. Airport spokesman Chuck Cannon said he was not aware of the move and could not say where AirTran will end up.
Southwest launched flights at DIA in January with 13 departures from two gates on the C concourse. It now offers 33 daily flights to nine cities using four gates.
The carrier typically flies about 10 daily departures from each gate, so it will have room for at least 17 more flights come March. That includes the extra capacity on its current gates.
Evergreen consultant Mike Boyd thinks much more growth is in store.
"To make it work they'll have to put 60 more flights here," Boyd said.
Southwest has indicated numerous times that it plans to grow in Denver and reportedly was a key force behind DIA's decision to expand the C concourse by at least eight gates. The gates aren't earmarked for any one carrier, although DIA will use two for overflow traffic.
The $160 million project will take three years to complete, meaning Southwest could run into space issues if it wants to expand much before then. Most of the C concourse's 22 gates are occupied, although there may be wiggle room because several aren't used to full capacity.
Southwest to add gate at DIA in '07
·
By Chris Walsh, Rocky Mountain News
December 28, 2006
Southwest Airlines will lease a fifth gate at Denver International Airport this spring, a concrete sign that the carrier plans to add flights and destinations here.
The Dallas-based discount giant said it will take over gate C49 in March, although it hasn't announced plans for additional service.
"I don't think it's a secret that we intend to continue growing here," Dave LaPorte, Southwest's Denver station manager, said Wednesday.
AirTran Airways operates four daily flights at the gate, according to DIA's Web site. Airport spokesman Chuck Cannon said he was not aware of the move and could not say where AirTran will end up.
Southwest launched flights at DIA in January with 13 departures from two gates on the C concourse. It now offers 33 daily flights to nine cities using four gates.
The carrier typically flies about 10 daily departures from each gate, so it will have room for at least 17 more flights come March. That includes the extra capacity on its current gates.
Evergreen consultant Mike Boyd thinks much more growth is in store.
"To make it work they'll have to put 60 more flights here," Boyd said.
Southwest has indicated numerous times that it plans to grow in Denver and reportedly was a key force behind DIA's decision to expand the C concourse by at least eight gates. The gates aren't earmarked for any one carrier, although DIA will use two for overflow traffic.
The $160 million project will take three years to complete, meaning Southwest could run into space issues if it wants to expand much before then. Most of the C concourse's 22 gates are occupied, although there may be wiggle room because several aren't used to full capacity.
