Does anyone here think that SWA will ever serve Colorado in the future. It just seems COS would be a great place to have service to and from. People in CO would love it.
Something must be blocking Southwest from serving COS because it seems like it is an ideal market for them. I would bet it is one of the few obvious markets left for them to expand to. Can anyone think of another off the top of their head?
I recall that they were here in Denver briefly. I never knew why they pulled out until I read in Hard Landing by Petzinger that they left because the cold winter weather here blunted their 20-minute turnaround policy.
On reflection, I don't quite understand that because I know they fly into Providence, which isn't exactly balmy in winter sometimes.
I think that Southwest would do well here. I'd bet they'd undercut Continental and American big time for the Dallas and Houston routes; maybe Kansas City and LAX as well, too. I don't remember if they go to Vegas; I believe they do and that would be a good market, too.
This may be just old hear-say or urban legend, but I used to live in Colorado... it was several years back, but I heard there was some sort of personal conflict between Herb and then CO governor Roy Romer. Herb declared that SWA would never serve CO. Whether that actually had anything to do with it or not, so far, it's been true.
From what I've heard from all my SWA friends is that Flx is pretty close. If it wasn't Romer it was Pena who Herb was pissed at.
Supposedly, they've been looking again. DIA is out because of the very high gate costs, ldg fees, taxes, you name it. I've heard via the new hire class Q & A sessions that COS is in the top 5 for opening, but not a priority right now. Can you say east coast domination?
Hope these rumors spread a little fire through CO. (bad choice of words)
The Springs is such a great market, I am surprised that some other low-cost carrier hasn't moved in yet--if not SWA. Hmmm...I heard that folks in COS like the color blue...
Sorry. Couldn't help but advertise a bit.
Seriously, as I recall, WestPac did a booming business out of COS during their brief rise to glory prior to their untimely move to DEN. The sight of the Simpson-painted 737 flying over my (at 4 DME) house was neat, especially with Marge's hair flowing up the entire length of the vertical stabilizer.
If memory serves, I believe that UAL had something to do with whatever "untimely" fortunes befell WestPac. Like flying DC10's between DEN and COS, for example. WestPac simply didn't have the wherewithall to withstand that kind of assault. SWA, well that would be another story altogether.
you should see vegas with SWA it's crazy because their everywhere. I would bet there are as many flights for SWA out of vegas as thier houston and dallas hubs.
Herb looked into Denver sometime ago. I heard the weather,cost and turnabout time all factored into his decision to not service Denver. I'm sure UA had something to do with it since SWA was already breathing down AA cities. Why p-ss the whole lot of them off at the same time. Several of us at SWA have always wondered about Denver. It seem like a good fit, but at SWA it's all about keeping the flow going.
Thanks for the info and history behind SWA and Colorado. Does Pena still have any leverage in Denver or Colorado?
I recently got a job with the WY ANG in Cheyenne and am still waiting for an interview call. It would be great to commute on SWA flights out of COS and still be able to fly 130s with WY. Anyway, take care and fly safe.
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