AC4500 wrote:

WN is restarting BUR-PDX, 1x daily on 2/19/23 (started in 2019): https://www.google.com/travel/flights/b ... 9Cdz0SAggD

Looks like the route was just loaded into their schedule this weekend, so I'm willing to bet that there could be other new routes in the schedule.

I see EUG-BUR starting on the same date.

Wneast wrote:

AC4500 wrote:

WN is restarting BUR-PDX, 1x daily on 2/19/23 (started in 2019): https://www.google.com/travel/flights/b ... 9Cdz0SAggD

Looks like the route was just loaded into their schedule this weekend, so I'm willing to bet that there could be other new routes in the schedule.

I see EUG-BUR starting on the same date.

Wow, then it looks like WN is responding to Avelo.

alpine1989 wrote:

[threeid][/threeid]

av8tiongeek wrote:

SWADawg wrote:

If by parked you mean aircraft that Southwest parked due to the pandemic. The number is pretty much zero at this point. Any that still are parked at this point will be retired and scrapped. If you’re talking about new deliveries that haven’t been delivered from Boeing. I have no idea.

New deliveries.

Southwest has zero aircraft in storage.

14 B737-7 Max have been built waiting on AOC.

There are 6 B737-8 Max NTU by SpiceJet in various stages of modification for SWA.

That’s it.

N705SW, N715SW, N726SW, N787SA & N568WN have been parked at Victorville for two and a half years [Planespotters and Flight Aware] - are they considered retired? Thanks for any knowledge !!

alpine1989 wrote:

[threeid][/threeid]

av8tiongeek wrote:

SWADawg wrote:

If by parked you mean aircraft that Southwest parked due to the pandemic. The number is pretty much zero at this point. Any that still are parked at this point will be retired and scrapped. If you’re talking about new deliveries that haven’t been delivered from Boeing. I have no idea.

New deliveries.

Southwest has zero aircraft in storage.

14 B737-7 Max have been built waiting on AOC.

There are 6 B737-8 Max NTU by SpiceJet in various stages of modification for SWA.

That’s it.

The fleet is not being fully utilized though due to continued staffing issues.

qfatwa wrote:

alpine1989 wrote:

[threeid][/threeid]

av8tiongeek wrote:

New deliveries.

Southwest has zero aircraft in storage.

14 B737-7 Max have been built waiting on AOC.

There are 6 B737-8 Max NTU by SpiceJet in various stages of modification for SWA.

That’s it.

N705SW, N715SW, N726SW, N787SA & N568WN have been parked at Victorville for two and a half years [Planespotters and Flight Aware] - are they considered retired? Thanks for any knowledge !!

Yes, all retired.

alpine1989 wrote:

qfatwa wrote:

alpine1989 wrote:

[threeid][/threeid]

Southwest has zero aircraft in storage.

14 B737-7 Max have been built waiting on AOC.

There are 6 B737-8 Max NTU by SpiceJet in various stages of modification for SWA.

That’s it.

N705SW, N715SW, N726SW, N787SA & N568WN have been parked at Victorville for two and a half years [Planespotters and Flight Aware] - are they considered retired? Thanks for any knowledge !!

Yes, all retired.

Thanks very much, Alpine 1989.

Others have recently mentioned in the Airliners.net forums that there are still some unused slots at LGA with the adds that DL is continuing to make at LGA.

There was an article in the Columbus Dispatch from June 2017 that stated that WN was considering adding LGA-CMH nonstop service if WN could get extra slots at LGA, and that article can be found at https://www.dispatch.com/story/lifestyl ... 708189007/.

If WN can pick up more LGA slots, there are some more adds that WN could make at LGA such as LGA-ORD/CMH nonstop service and increased frequencies on LGA-ATL/MDW/DAL/DEN.

Would WN seek to pick up any of the unused LGA slots with the further expansion opportunities that WN would have at LGA if WN can pick up extra LGA slots?

jplatts wrote:

Others have recently mentioned in the Airliners.net forums that there are still some unused slots at LGA with the adds that DL is continuing to make at LGA.

There was an article in the Columbus Dispatch from June 2017 that stated that WN was considering adding LGA-CMH nonstop service if WN could get extra slots at LGA, and that article can be found at https://www.dispatch.com/story/lifestyl ... 708189007/.

If WN can pick up more LGA slots, there are some more adds that WN could make at LGA such as LGA-ORD/CMH nonstop service and increased frequencies on LGA-ATL/MDW/DAL/DEN.

Would WN seek to pick up any of the unused LGA slots with the further expansion opportunities that WN would have at LGA if WN can pick up extra LGA slots?

If WN wants to make FLL an international gateway, then I would think they would add FLL-LGA at least twice a day to provide connecting opportunities to the Caribbean and Central America once they restore their network.

avi8 wrote:

If WN wants to make FLL an international gateway, then I would think they would add FLL-LGA at least twice a day to provide connecting opportunities to the Caribbean and Central America once they restore their network.

BZE and CZM are the only international destinations served by WN that don't have B6 service, and all of the other international destinations that are currently served by WN already have B6 nonstop service out of JFK on at least a seasonal basis.

Most of those traveling to Mexico, Costa Rico, or the Caribbean from NYC also prefer to fly nonstop out of JFK or EWR on another airline instead of connecting on WN.

Some more photos of N871HK, courtesy of Woodys Aeroimages:
https://twitter.com/AeroimagesChris/sta ... 7858220032

avi8 wrote:

jplatts wrote:

Others have recently mentioned in the Airliners.net forums that there are still some unused slots at LGA with the adds that DL is continuing to make at LGA.

There was an article in the Columbus Dispatch from June 2017 that stated that WN was considering adding LGA-CMH nonstop service if WN could get extra slots at LGA, and that article can be found at https://www.dispatch.com/story/lifestyl ... 708189007/.

If WN can pick up more LGA slots, there are some more adds that WN could make at LGA such as LGA-ORD/CMH nonstop service and increased frequencies on LGA-ATL/MDW/DAL/DEN.

Would WN seek to pick up any of the unused LGA slots with the further expansion opportunities that WN would have at LGA if WN can pick up extra LGA slots?

If WN wants to make FLL an international gateway, then I would think they would add FLL-LGA at least twice a day to provide connecting opportunities to the Caribbean and Central America once they restore their network.

That's not a great path to prosperity. New Yorkers have plenty of non-stop options from JFK and EWR. FLL connections would have to sell at a steep discount.

AC4500 wrote:

Wneast wrote:

AC4500 wrote:

WN is restarting BUR-PDX, 1x daily on 2/19/23 (started in 2019): https://www.google.com/travel/flights/b ... 9Cdz0SAggD

Looks like the route was just loaded into their schedule this weekend, so I'm willing to bet that there could be other new routes in the schedule.

I see EUG-BUR starting on the same date.

Wow, then it looks like WN is responding to Avelo.

Cue the "Southwest and Avelo to merge?" threads.

TWA772LR wrote:

AC4500 wrote:

Wneast wrote:

I see EUG-BUR starting on the same date.

Wow, then it looks like WN is responding to Avelo.

Cue the "Southwest and Avelo to merge?" threads.

Good. I’m glad WN is responding at BUR against Avelo. Avelo isn’t that strong to begin with at BUR so hopefully WN can deliver the final blow to them and that Avelo will pull out of BUR altogether.

TWA772LR wrote:

AC4500 wrote:

Wneast wrote:

I see EUG-BUR starting on the same date.

Wow, then it looks like WN is responding to Avelo.

Cue the "Southwest and Avelo to merge?" threads.

It'll be interesting to see the ex-WN birds at Avelo right now going right back to being in WN's colours again, that's for sure.

mesasurf wrote:

TWA772LR wrote:

AC4500 wrote:

Wow, then it looks like WN is responding to Avelo.

Cue the "Southwest and Avelo to merge?" threads.

Good. I’m glad WN is responding at BUR against Avelo. Avelo isn’t that strong to begin with at BUR so hopefully WN can deliver the final blow to them and that Avelo will pull out of BUR altogether.

Wow. Pretty intense. Competition is the core of capitalism, for what's best for the consumer. And that would also mean one less airline/service for us avgeeks.

LGA-BWI route is ending early November. Any one know where those slots will go?

TWA772LR wrote:

mesasurf wrote:

TWA772LR wrote:

Cue the "Southwest and Avelo to merge?" threads.

Good. I’m glad WN is responding at BUR against Avelo. Avelo isn’t that strong to begin with at BUR so hopefully WN can deliver the final blow to them and that Avelo will pull out of BUR altogether.

Wow. Pretty intense. Competition is the core of capitalism, for what's best for the consumer. And that would also mean one less airline/service for us avgeeks.

Competition= only the strong survive. There are no participation trophies in business.
Also, capitalism has never been about what’s best for the consumer, hence the need for consumer protection agencies. The airline business is particularly cutthroat, and is about to get even more so in the likely economic downturn. I’m not sure that the recent startups have reached critical mass for survival.

orlandocfi wrote:

TWA772LR wrote:

mesasurf wrote:

Good. I’m glad WN is responding at BUR against Avelo. Avelo isn’t that strong to begin with at BUR so hopefully WN can deliver the final blow to them and that Avelo will pull out of BUR altogether.

Wow. Pretty intense. Competition is the core of capitalism, for what's best for the consumer. And that would also mean one less airline/service for us avgeeks.

Competition= only the strong survive. There are no participation trophies in business.
Also, capitalism has never been about what’s best for the consumer, hence the need for consumer protection agencies. The airline business is particularly cutthroat, and is about to get even more so in the likely economic downturn. I’m not sure that the recent startups have reached critical mass for survival.

Yeah I'm aware of all that. I'm just surprised by the callousness of the poster and wanting to eliminate a player in the industry that we all love.

TWA772LR wrote:

orlandocfi wrote:

TWA772LR wrote:

Wow. Pretty intense. Competition is the core of capitalism, for what's best for the consumer. And that would also mean one less airline/service for us avgeeks.

Competition= only the strong survive. There are no participation trophies in business.
Also, capitalism has never been about what’s best for the consumer, hence the need for consumer protection agencies. The airline business is particularly cutthroat, and is about to get even more so in the likely economic downturn. I’m not sure that the recent startups have reached critical mass for survival.

Yeah I'm aware of all that. I'm just surprised by the callousness of the poster and wanting to eliminate a player in the industry that we all love.

We? Who’s we?

mesasurf wrote:

TWA772LR wrote:

orlandocfi wrote:

Competition= only the strong survive. There are no participation trophies in business.
Also, capitalism has never been about what’s best for the consumer, hence the need for consumer protection agencies. The airline business is particularly cutthroat, and is about to get even more so in the likely economic downturn. I’m not sure that the recent startups have reached critical mass for survival.

Yeah I'm aware of all that. I'm just surprised by the callousness of the poster and wanting to eliminate a player in the industry that we all love.

We? Who’s we?

We, meaning the avgeeks that have profiles on this site.

I find it confusing and amusing that they are getting a “retro” Canyon Blue aircraft painted. I see that paint scheme daily. They should wait until the fleet is repainted before bringing something *back* that hasn’t left.

Mexicana757 wrote:

NJFlyer27 wrote:

LGA-BWI route is ending early November. Any one know where those slots will go?

Looks like some of the slots are going to LGA-MDW flights, Increasing frequencies from 6x daily to 8x daily.

STL-LGA goes up one in Nov also so that might be the other one.

XRadar98 wrote:

I find it confusing and amusing that they are getting a “retro” Canyon Blue aircraft painted. I see that paint scheme daily. They should wait until the fleet is repainted before bringing something *back* that hasn’t left.

It be interesting if there was actual data of planes with old canyon left at this point.

Mexicana757 wrote:

NJFlyer27 wrote:

LGA-BWI route is ending early November. Any one know where those slots will go?

Looks like some of the slots are going to LGA-MDW flights, Increasing frequencies from 6x daily to 8x daily.

Thanks for the info.

I believe Southwest could have used those slots to add service to cities that have little competition from LGA.

Cities like CLE, CMH, MKE, IND, RDU would likely fair well with Southwest service to LGA.

ChetManly24 wrote:

XRadar98 wrote:

I find it confusing and amusing that they are getting a “retro” Canyon Blue aircraft painted. I see that paint scheme daily. They should wait until the fleet is repainted before bringing something *back* that hasn’t left.

It be interesting if there was actual data of planes with old canyon left at this point.

According to this spreadsheet, there’s less than 10% of the fleet left in Canyon Blue colours.

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/ ... view#gid=0

Seems odd the main connecting station on the east coast loses flights to LGA. Then again, LGA passengers are looking for direct flights.

LGA - MKE was discontinued before the pandemic. LGA - MKE was a carryover from Air Tran in MKE as was MKE- BOS, MKE - MSP, MKE - DCA, MKE - LAX, MKE - SFO, and MKE - SEA.
With the exception of MKE - DCA i believe all of the other routes are gone on a Daily Basis.
Some may be seasonal or weekend only.
The MKE to LAX, SFO, and SEA flights usually went out full or close to full 5 or 6 days a week plus a whole lot of freight.
Only a couple days a week were the MKE to LGA flights full or close to full.

sonnyr23 wrote:

The MKE to LAX, SFO, and SEA flights usually went out full or close to full 5 or 6 days a week plus a whole lot of freight.

If WN resumes nonstop service to the San Francisco Bay Area out of MKE, WN is more likely to add MKE-OAK nonstop service than to resume MKE-SFO nonstop service with WN having a much smaller presence at SFO than it did prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. There would also be some connecting opportunities available to Hawaii through OAK if WN adds MKE-OAK nonstop service.

While WN doesn't currently operate daily nonstop service to OAK out of STL, STL can support the return of daily nonstop service to OAK on WN with UA having completely dropped STL-SFO nonstop flights from its flight schedules along with the San Francisco Bay Area being one of the top markets traveled to from Greater St. Louis.

WN adding OKC-OAK nonstop service is also a possibility with UA having completely dropped OKC-SFO nonstop flights from its flight schedules. WN has also made some other adds out of OKC in the last 2 years, including the return of OKC-ATL nonstop service, the addition of OKC-AUS/SAT nonstop service, and an extra daily nonstop to MDW from OKC.

Will WN take advantage of the opportunities that are there to add OAK-MKE/OKC nonstop service and resume daily nonstop service to STL from OAK with MKE/OKC/STL no longer having any nonstop service to SFO?

I don't see OKC - OAK anytime soon though i am not opposed to it. They can just as easily send a customer down to DAL or HOU to connect to OAK.
For a time when i worked in MKE for Southwest we had some thru flights to OAK.
I recall MKE- LAX - OAK and MKE - DEN - OAK.
I don't recall to many thru bags on those thru flights. We would have some Transfer bags on some LAX Flights going to OAK on those LAX Flights that did not go thru to OAK.
MKE - SAN was a popular Air Tran Flight we were told and Southwest had MKE - SAN and did quite well but for whatever reason they discontinued it even before the pandemic.
My belief is that MKE will continue to be downsized while ORD will be built up to a future possible 50 or more flight station.
One of my former SWA coworkers in MKE said that MKE is no longer classified as a Mid Size Station.
I worked in MKE 4 times for Southwest. My first dance in MKE in 2012 Southwest just integrated all the Air Tran agents over to Southwest and there was i believe 60 to 65 flights which included some flights that were 717's .
There was talk about MKE becoming a Provisioning Station as many of us heard but in the 11th hour Gary Kelly would not sign off on it.
Sad to say but Southwest loss in MKE is Spirit - Jet Blues Gain.

Silly me. No longer OKC to DAL nonstop. So DEN or HOU would be the connecting cities to OAK from OKC.

sonnyr23 wrote:

My belief is that MKE will continue to be downsized while ORD will be built up to a future possible 50 or more flight station.

Here is the current breakdown of WN service out of MKE on weekdays (19 daily departures):
1x ATL, 2x BWI, 1x DAL, 4x DEN, 1x LAS, 2x BNA, 2x MCO, 1x PHX, 2x STL, 1x TPA, 2x DCA

WN would likely continue to operate all 11 of the above nonstop routes out of MKE on a daily basis, even if WN further expands at ORD.

WN also already serves BWI/DAL/DEN/LAS/BNA/MCO/PHX/TPA nonstop from MDW/ORD/MKE.

jplatts wrote:

sonnyr23 wrote:

My belief is that MKE will continue to be downsized while ORD will be built up to a future possible 50 or more flight station.

Here is the current breakdown of WN service out of MKE on weekdays (19 daily departures):
1x ATL, 2x BWI, 1x DAL, 4x DEN, 1x LAS, 2x BNA, 2x MCO, 1x PHX, 2x STL, 1x TPA, 2x DCA

WN would likely continue to operate all 11 of the above nonstop routes out of MKE on a daily basis, even if WN further expands at ORD.

WN also already serves BWI/DAL/DEN/LAS/BNA/MCO/PHX/TPA nonstop from MDW/ORD/MKE.

They also flew MCI-MKE until the pandemic - that flight seemed to do well for them. It's a shame it's gone.

I'm surprised that WN hasn't brought back more SEA flights. I did notice that they have so few flights to SEA that they lost one of their gates to DL and now only have 4 gates (SEA allocated gates by how many flights an airline flew in the past year). Hopefully, this will change in the future.

sonnyr23 wrote:

LGA - MKE was discontinued before the pandemic. LGA - MKE was a carryover from Air Tran in MKE as was MKE- BOS, MKE - MSP, MKE - DCA, MKE - LAX, MKE - SFO, and MKE - SEA.
With the exception of MKE - DCA i believe all of the other routes are gone on a Daily Basis.
Some may be seasonal or weekend only.
The MKE to LAX, SFO, and SEA flights usually went out full or close to full 5 or 6 days a week plus a whole lot of freight.
Only a couple days a week were the MKE to LGA flights full or close to full.

Ah yes, I remember FL's twice daily MKE-LAX service well. I grew up in Lake Forest, IL and went to college at USC (in downtown Los Angeles). Flights between ORD and LAX in those days were limited to just AA and UA, so MKE was a great alternative with its significantly cheaper flights to LA on NW, YX (Midwest Express "Connect" E-190s) and of course AirTran - which only served Chicago via MDW, and very cleverly marketed MKE as "Chicago - Northern suburbs".

I don't think I ever paid more than $100 each way for the AirTran nonstop flights between MKE and LAX, and I do remember having to wait for delayed flights from the East Coast to arrive before we could depart for LAX one evening. It was clear that FL's whole focus city/mini hub operation was a way to grow outside of ATL, and that it (like ATL) catered heavily to connecting traffic. One time I arrived at MKE and the guy at Enterprise was downright *shocked* I had just arrived from LA. He just couldn't believe that his airport had nonstop service to such an exotic place!

All in all, as the ORD slot regime went away and carriers like NK, VX and even WN were able to gain gate space at Chicagoland's preferred airport, MKE-LAX was never going to last. There just isn't much demand between Milwaukee and LA. In fact, I don't think there ever really was. To be sure, the flights that did operate were clearly never profitable!

formeraa wrote:

I'm surprised that WN hasn't brought back more SEA flights. I did notice that they have so few flights to SEA that they lost one of their gates to DL and now only have 4 gates (SEA allocated gates by how many flights an airline flew in the past year). Hopefully, this will change in the future.

I was actually surprised that WN wasn't operating daily nonstop service to SEA from AUS/BWI/DAL/HOU/STL in Summer 2022 with SEA being one of the largest WN stations (by number of passengers in June 2022) that doesn't have daily nonstop service to AUS/BWI/DAL/HOU/STL on WN.

SEA is the biggest WN station in the Contiguous U.S. (by number of passengers in June 2022) that doesn't currently have WN nonstop service out of DAL, but WN still has Saturday-only DAL-SEA nonstop flights in its schedule from 11/12/2022 through 12/31/2022.

LGA is the only WN station in the Contiguous U.S. bigger than SEA (by number of passengers in June 2022) that doesn't currently have WN nonstop service out of AUS, but AUS is outside of the LGA perimeter.

BUR is the only WN station in the Contiguous U.S. bigger than SEA (by number of passengers in June 2022) that doesn't currently have WN nonstop service out of HOU, but WN still has Saturday-only HOU-BUR nonstop flights in its schedule from 11/12/2022 through 12/31/2022.

There are some WN stations in the Contiguous U.S. bigger than SEA (by number of passengers in June 2022) that doesn't currently have WN nonstop service out of BWI, including OAK, SJC, SMF, BUR, SNA, and LGB.

SEA currently has Sunday-only nonstop service out of STL on WN, and BUR is the only WN station in the Contiguous U.S. bigger than SEA (by number of passengers in June 2022) that doesn't currently have WN nonstop service out of STL.

WN was also still operating daily nonstop service to SEA from BWI/DAL/STL in October 2019, but WN completely dropped BWI-SEA nonstop service due to the COVID-19 pandemic and WN is currently operating SEA-DAL/STL nonstop service on a seasonal, less-than-daily basis due to the operational issues that WN is currently facing.

Here were the top 30 WN stations by number of domestic passengers in June 2022:
DEN, MDW, LAS, DAL, BWI, PHX, HOU, BNA, OAK, MCO, STL, SAN, AUS, SJC, ATL, SMF, LAX, TPA, MCI, MSY, BUR, SNA, SAT, FLL, DCA, LGA, HNL, LGB, SEA, CMH

[url][/url]

NJFlyer27 wrote:

Mexicana757 wrote:

NJFlyer27 wrote:

LGA-BWI route is ending early November. Any one know where those slots will go?

Looks like some of the slots are going to LGA-MDW flights, Increasing frequencies from 6x daily to 8x daily.

Thanks for the info.

I believe Southwest could have used those slots to add service to cities that have little competition from LGA.

Cities like CLE, CMH, MKE, IND, RDU would likely fair well with Southwest service to LGA.

NYC is a tough market for SWA. Too much competition and the other carriers are more established there. Also, the post Covid business demand/O&D for LGA-heartland just isn’t there. DL and AA are the most likely to succeed in these markets especially since they have the right equipment (RJs).

Markets that shrunk drastically (like MKE) could see service restored within the next year. Keep in mind Southwest’s fleet size is only now the same as it was before Covid. Remember that they added a couple dozen new stations during Covid, so as it is certain markets haven’t been restored in terms of frequency. P2P flying is only barely being added back, little by little. Also, long hauls are still largely absent from the network, presumably because they take up too much aircraft time. Now that the fleet is actually growing for the first time in 3 years, look for more long hauls to return from BWI, ATL, MCO, BNA, MDW, STL, LAX, OAK, SAN, SJC, PHX, and LAS. All of this is highly speculative and contingent on how the recession shakes up demand.

Once the MAX7 receives certification and ETOPS approval, look for Hawaii services to be restored during high season and potentially new additional Hawaii markets (BUR, SNA, DEN, etc.)

formeraa wrote:

I'm surprised that WN hasn't brought back more SEA flights. I did notice that they have so few flights to SEA that they lost one of their gates to DL and now only have 4 gates (SEA allocated gates by how many flights an airline flew in the past year). Hopefully, this will change in the future.

It’s not just SEA. WN at SLC and BOI are a lot smaller than they used to be. WN used to have six gates at the old SLC terminal, they only have four at the new terminal in the B concourse.

XRadar98 wrote:

I find it confusing and amusing that they are getting a “retro” Canyon Blue aircraft painted. I see that paint scheme daily. They should wait until the fleet is repainted before bringing something *back* that hasn’t left.

I know at least two of the original retro golds, n711hk and n714cb, came before the desert livery was gone from the fleet.

N711HK was repainted in 2006, and WN wrapped up the desert gold repaints in 2009. There’s a relatively small handful of Canyon Blue -800s left in the fleet, and I’d imagine the whole -800 fleet will be in the new livery by early/ mid 2023.

The reason you’re seeing both Desert Gold and Canyon Blue is because Herbs plane (N711HK) was retired, and Colleen’s tribute plane (N266WN) will be repainted next year. Prior to Covid, 266 was scheduled to keep its Canyon Blue paint as a tribute to Colleen Barett.

IMHO, despite the fading issues with Canyon Blue, that color scheme could have lasted another 10 years as WNs livery. It looks way better than the current paint job.

SXDFC wrote:

IMHO, despite the fading issues with Canyon Blue, that color scheme could have lasted another 10 years as WNs livery. It looks way better than the current paint job.

I used to think so but after spending a few years in a location that only sees the current heart livery, when I travel and see the canyon livery it’s quite jarring to me how dated it looks. The boldness of the heart livery has definitely grown on me.

sonnyr23 wrote:

I don't see OKC - OAK anytime soon though i am not opposed to it. They can just as easily send a customer down to DAL or HOU to connect to OAK.
For a time when i worked in MKE for Southwest we had some thru flights to OAK.
I recall MKE- LAX - OAK and MKE - DEN - OAK.
I don't recall to many thru bags on those thru flights. We would have some Transfer bags on some LAX Flights going to OAK on those LAX Flights that did not go thru to OAK.
MKE - SAN was a popular Air Tran Flight we were told and Southwest had MKE - SAN and did quite well but for whatever reason they discontinued it even before the pandemic.
My belief is that MKE will continue to be downsized while ORD will be built up to a future possible 50 or more flight station.
One of my former SWA coworkers in MKE said that MKE is no longer classified as a Mid Size Station.
I worked in MKE 4 times for Southwest. My first dance in MKE in 2012 Southwest just integrated all the Air Tran agents over to Southwest and there was i believe 60 to 65 flights which included some flights that were 717's .
There was talk about MKE becoming a Provisioning Station as many of us heard but in the 11th hour Gary Kelly would not sign off on it.
Sad to say but Southwest loss in MKE is Spirit - Jet Blues Gain.

The vision for MKE was to be an MDW reliever however that didn't go as planned

SXDFC wrote:

There’s a relatively small handful of Canyon Blue -800s left in the fleet, and I’d imagine the whole -800 fleet will be in the new livery by early/ mid 2023.

Thanks SXDFC; is there only one repaint line underway currently?

qfatwa wrote:

SXDFC wrote:

There’s a relatively small handful of Canyon Blue -800s left in the fleet, and I’d imagine the whole -800 fleet will be in the new livery by early/ mid 2023.

Thanks SXDFC; is there only one repaint line underway currently?

There are currently three repaint lines running. Some early Heart planes getting a fresh coat but the vast majority are Canyon repaints.

mesasurf wrote:

formeraa wrote:

I'm surprised that WN hasn't brought back more SEA flights. I did notice that they have so few flights to SEA that they lost one of their gates to DL and now only have 4 gates (SEA allocated gates by how many flights an airline flew in the past year). Hopefully, this will change in the future.

It’s not just SEA. WN at SLC and BOI are a lot smaller than they used to be. WN used to have six gates at the old SLC terminal, they only have four at the new terminal in the B concourse.

Same here at PDX. They have a 6 gate new concourse and it is about 1/3 used at best. Given PDX has seen a lot of AS cuts, and very fickle offerings by the LCC's, I really think SW could take a lot of market share if they wanted to.

I am hopeful a lot of these longer routes mentioned come back next summer. Some were originally scheduled for this summer and got cut back

airplaneboy wrote:

Markets that shrunk drastically (like MKE) could see service restored within the next year. Keep in mind Southwest’s fleet size is only now the same as it was before Covid. Remember that they added a couple dozen new stations during Covid, so as it is certain markets haven’t been restored in terms of frequency. P2P flying is only barely being added back, little by little. Also, long hauls are still largely absent from the network, presumably because they take up too much aircraft time. Now that the fleet is actually growing for the first time in 3 years, look for more long hauls to return from BWI, ATL, MCO, BNA, MDW, STL, LAX, OAK, SAN, SJC, PHX, and LAS. All of this is highly speculative and contingent on how the recession shakes up demand.

In addition, WN resuming daily nonstop service to CLT/CVG/DTW/MKE/PIT/PDX/RDU/SEA out of HOU are also possibilities, especially with the cuts that UA has made at IAH.

Other possible adds out of Houston by WN include HOU-ORD nonstop service and IAH-ATL/BWI/LAX/STL nonstop service.

FWIW, I find the new livery much more attractive than the canyon blue. The yellow really adds some pop.

When Southwest opened in MKE in 2009 the original destinations were BWI, MCI, TPA, MCO, PHX, LAS.
STL and DEN did not come until later. The original Southwest gates in MKE were at The D concourse.

KDAL wrote:

qfatwa wrote:

SXDFC wrote:

There’s a relatively small handful of Canyon Blue -800s left in the fleet, and I’d imagine the whole -800 fleet will be in the new livery by early/ mid 2023.

Thanks SXDFC; is there only one repaint line underway currently?

There are currently three repaint lines running. Some early Heart planes getting a fresh coat but the vast majority are Canyon repaints.

Do you know, are repaints getting cabin mods as well (-800)?