Southwest Airlines today opened the carrier's flight schedule from May 9, 2009, through June 26, 2009. In a continuing effort to optimize the airline's flight schedule, Southwest has eliminated 32 existing roundtrip flights from its current schedule and added 19 roundtrip flights for a net reduction of 13 roundtrip flights systemwide. Southwest will initiate new nonstop service between Denver and Tucson with one daily nonstop flight when the new schedule opens in May. To view a complete chart of the schedule changes in each city, click here:http://www.southwest.com/swamedia/Flight_Changes_Chart_120908.pdf

Several markets will be gaining new nonstop service, including:

BEGINNING MAY 9, 2009:

-- One new daily nonstop roundtrip flight between Denver and Tucson.
-- One returning daily nonstop roundtrip flight between Nashville and
Oakland.
-- One returning daily nonstop roundtrip flight between Nashville and
Seattle.

[Edited 2008-12-09 09:30:51]

[Edited 2008-12-09 09:36:38]

Several routes are also dropped completely:

AUS-MAF
DTW-MCO
FLL-MHT
RSW-ISP

That's good news! Actually made my day to be exact about the BNA flights. They should've never tried to get rid of them!

The SEA-BNA is a popular flight for cruise ship passengers traveling to Vancouver BC Canada to embark on Alaska cruises. It was full each time I flew it even though I had to re-claim my luggage from AS in SEA and check it with WN. The Non-stop made it worthwhile vs flying and waiting in DFW or ORD for a connection.

I wasn't aware WN ka-bashed the flight. It appears WN # 382 flies between SEA-BNA and WN # 355 flies the BNA-SEA through Jan 10, 2009. flight # 341 on Saturdays.

It returns on May 9 as flight # 1345 between SEA-BNA and 1139 between BNA-SEA with a earlier departure time in both directions.

On a side note, is Horizon winning the battle over WN on SEA-RNO? I remember WN used to be at 3 non-stops on this route and will no be down to 1 starting in May. Or is Reno just a down market for all carriers?

PHL has a net change of 0, although PHL-DEN goes up to 3 a day.

Quoting Iowaman (Reply 1): DTW-MCO FLL-MHT RSW-ISP

I wonder if those Florida routes are only temporary stoppages?

Quoting PHLBOS (Reply 6): I wonder if those Florida routes are only temporary stoppages?

In the case of RSW-ISP and FLL-MHT, I wouldn't be surprised if they were temporary.

DTW-MCO is more interesting as there is still a decent amount of MCO demand in the summer. Of course, with NW, FL and NK on this route, WN may have decided its just not worth it.

Quoting Unmlobo (Reply 4): On a side note, is Horizon winning the battle over WN on SEA-RNO? I remember WN used to be at 3 non-stops on this route and will no be down to 1 starting in May. Or is Reno just a down market for all carriers?

Reno's economy isn't doing so hot overall. They've really been hurt by the expansion of Indian gaming over the last 10-15 years, especially in California (and in Washington/Oregon to a lesser extent). AS/QX has actually cut back a lot in the market as well, with all AS flying moving over to QX. The flights are still full, but yields are terrible. There's some Microsoft traffic between the two cities, but that's about it.

Although I am glad to see new service at TUS, Frontier and UA Express already operate DEN-TUS. I am just curious if the route can support a third carrier.

I have to admit, I'm excited that WN is starting DEN from TUS, but I have to say this isn't good news for F9 at TUS. UA maybe not so bad, but definitely not F9 with only 2 departures a day. Especially if WN's departure is mid-afternoon (When F9 doesn't have any departures to DEN.)

http://www.southwest.com/swamedia/Flight_Changes_Chart_120908.pdf

in case you don't want to copy and paste

Quoting Unmlobo (Reply 4): Or is Reno just a down market for all carriers?

I think that is probably most of it. RNO has an extreme yield problem, and makes LAS look good.

Quoting Nycaross (Reply 9): Although I am glad to see new service at TUS, Frontier and UA Express already operate DEN-TUS. I am just curious if the route can support a third carrier.

With it only once daily and F9 having connecting feed, maybe they will be ok.

Quoting FlyPNS1 (Reply 7): In the case of RSW-ISP and FLL-MHT, I wouldn't be surprised if they were temporary.

I agree.

I see PDX-MDW is increased by one to two. This is a route (well PDX-ORD) AA keeps adding and dropping.

Quoting Iowaman (Thread starter): outhwest has eliminated 32 existing roundtrip flights from its current schedule and added 19 roundtrip flights for a net reduction of 13 roundtrip flights systemwide.

Does this allow for enough aircraft to serve LGA? Approx when will LGA start again? I can't remember now and am too lazy to look it up. I know there is a 6 month window to start service.

Quoting Joeljack (Reply 14): Does this allow for enough aircraft to serve LGA

I think WN has plenty of aircraft to do as it wants - including LGA service.

They are getting 13 new planes in 2009. Currently WN plans to retire 13 also, but they could hold off quite a few retirements if needed. Or it can park additional older planes to reduce capacity.

With a 63% load factor I think too many planes may be the problem.

Though most of the Florida flight trimming appears to be seasonal with the upcoming changes, tourism and leisure travel is off by quite a margin in most areas of the state. Next year's off peak season musn't be looking too good already. Perhaps WN's getting ahead of the curve.

Quoting Iowaman (Reply 12): With it only once daily and F9 having connecting feed, maybe they will be ok.

I believe it's actually two or three times daily now.

Quoting FLY2TUS (Reply 17): I believe it's actually two or three times daily now.

Frontier has 2x departures to DEN. An early morning (645am, I believe) and a late morning (1045am). Nothing after that. They used to run an evening flight to DEN, but that was at least a year ago, if not longer.

Skywest has two morning flights, roughly around the Frontier times. United has a mainline Airbus that goes out around 3 pm.

I think the Southwest flight goes out around noon.

It's a welcome addition for Tucson, especially since they've pulled back a lot of our flights over the last year. I've been wondering how long before it would be before they started flying TUS-DEN. Now...if they bring back our nonstop to Oakland, I'll be happy. That flight was always pretty full when I was on it.

Quoting FLY2TUS (Reply 17): I believe it's actually two or three times daily now.

Sorry, I should of been more clear. I meant with the WN flight being only once daily and F9 having connecting feed for their flights.