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Everyone loves Southwest
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By STEVEN CHURCH
The News Journal
10/12/2004
In just four months, Southwest Airlines has taken over as the No. 2 airline at Philadelphia International Airport, using a low-cost formula to reshuffle the pecking order at the region's main airport.
According to airport figures, Southwest had 6 percent of all passenger traffic at the airport in August, the most recent month for which numbers are available. That puts the company behind US Airways, which had 62 percent of all traffic, but ahead of Delta Air Lines, which previously had been No. 2.
"They will continue to grow and eventually dominate that market," stock analyst Ray Neidl said of Southwest.
How long it takes the company to become the No. 1 carrier in Philadelphia depends on how US Airways fares in Bankruptcy Court. US Airways is struggling to reorganize and lower its costs in order to compete in an industry that has been hit hard by price wars and rising fuel costs, Neidl said.
The change in passenger volume is the latest sign that Southwest is putting pressure on its rivals. It was not clear from the numbers, whether the low-cost airline has taken passengers from other carriers or is attracting new passengers, said airport spokesman Mark Pesce.
But the figures show that Southwest is gaining passengers faster than US Airways, as both companies add flights at the airport.
Company spokeswoman Whitney Eichinger said Southwest's growth was the result of its low fares and an expanding schedule.
Ticket prices at the Philadelphia airport had been among the most expensive in the country before Southwest began offering a smaller number of flights in May. Since then, US Airways has begun matching Southwest's fares and added a number of new flights as well.
US Airways will add flights next month at Philadelphia, which is the company's most important airport. Spokeswoman Amy Kudwa said the change does not mean US Airways is losing ground to Southwest.
"We are holding our own in Philadelphia," Kudwa said.
Between June and August, US Airways boosted the number of passengers at Philadelphia by almost 31,000, while Southwest added about 77,000. Southwest started service in Philadelphia in May with 14 daily flights. The company doubled that to 28 in July and will add 14 more flights at the end of October. US Airways, which filed for bankruptcy last month, has added flights even more aggressively than Southwest. It increased the number of offered 392 flights in May, and currently offers 426 flights out of Philadelphia. Next month, as the company cuts back service in Pittsburgh, it will add 35 more flights.
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By STEVEN CHURCH
The News Journal
10/12/2004
In just four months, Southwest Airlines has taken over as the No. 2 airline at Philadelphia International Airport, using a low-cost formula to reshuffle the pecking order at the region's main airport.
According to airport figures, Southwest had 6 percent of all passenger traffic at the airport in August, the most recent month for which numbers are available. That puts the company behind US Airways, which had 62 percent of all traffic, but ahead of Delta Air Lines, which previously had been No. 2.
"They will continue to grow and eventually dominate that market," stock analyst Ray Neidl said of Southwest.
How long it takes the company to become the No. 1 carrier in Philadelphia depends on how US Airways fares in Bankruptcy Court. US Airways is struggling to reorganize and lower its costs in order to compete in an industry that has been hit hard by price wars and rising fuel costs, Neidl said.
The change in passenger volume is the latest sign that Southwest is putting pressure on its rivals. It was not clear from the numbers, whether the low-cost airline has taken passengers from other carriers or is attracting new passengers, said airport spokesman Mark Pesce.
But the figures show that Southwest is gaining passengers faster than US Airways, as both companies add flights at the airport.
Company spokeswoman Whitney Eichinger said Southwest's growth was the result of its low fares and an expanding schedule.
Ticket prices at the Philadelphia airport had been among the most expensive in the country before Southwest began offering a smaller number of flights in May. Since then, US Airways has begun matching Southwest's fares and added a number of new flights as well.
US Airways will add flights next month at Philadelphia, which is the company's most important airport. Spokeswoman Amy Kudwa said the change does not mean US Airways is losing ground to Southwest.
"We are holding our own in Philadelphia," Kudwa said.
Between June and August, US Airways boosted the number of passengers at Philadelphia by almost 31,000, while Southwest added about 77,000. Southwest started service in Philadelphia in May with 14 daily flights. The company doubled that to 28 in July and will add 14 more flights at the end of October. US Airways, which filed for bankruptcy last month, has added flights even more aggressively than Southwest. It increased the number of offered 392 flights in May, and currently offers 426 flights out of Philadelphia. Next month, as the company cuts back service in Pittsburgh, it will add 35 more flights.
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