Southwest returns to Denver
Southwest Airlines has launched its first flights out of Denver in 20 years.
On Tuesday January 2, Southwest began operating out of Denver International Airport, offering 13 flights a day.
The airline will fly to Chicago Midway, Las Vegas and Phoenix. Advanced purchase tickets for Chicago are available for $79, while a one-way ticket to Las Vegas or Phoenix will set budget travelers back just $59.
The airline hopes to increase the number of flights offered, providing Denver residents make the airline feel welcome.
"Stay tuned," said Gary Kelly, Southwest's CEO. "Hopefully we'll see good customer response and ramp up quickly."
Southwest's experiences in Philadelphia may act as a model for expansion. When the airline launched there in 2004 it offered 14 daily flights, now upped to 53.
Kelly claimed that Southwest's presence at Denver would mean more cheap flights for all travelers, as other operators lowered their prices to remain competitive.
Southwest's arrival will pose a particular challenge to low-cost airline Frontier, which offers discount travel to Chicago, Las Vegas and Phoenix.
Southwest Airlines pulled out of Denver in 1986, citing high costs at the now defunct Stapleton International Airport. It decided not to return when Denver International was opened in 1995, claiming that airport charges were still excessive.
In 1995 airlines incurred a typical charge of $16.85 per passenger, now reduced to $14.30. As the precise charge varies between airlines, Southwest expects to pay between $7 and $9 per passenger.
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