Southwest Pulls Out Of Iah

[ssullivan]

Not surprised to see this -- the IAH-Dallas Love flights on Southwest have been empty for years.

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Jan. 28, 2005, 12:37AM

Southwest pulling out of Bush Airport

Carrier says it will focus its growth at Hobby

By BILL HENSEL JR.

Copyright 2005 Houston Chronicle

Southwest Airlines is pulling out of Bush Intercontinental Airport on April 2, citing continued losses at Houston's biggest airport.

The nation's low-fare leader is discontinuing six flights at Bush, where it originally began service in 1971.

Dallas-based Southwest said it will contact travelers already holding reservations for later travel dates and will accommodate them with flights out of Hobby Airport.

After an eight-year absence in the '70s, the carrier has continuously served Bush since 1980. Now its focus will be solely on Hobby, where it is the dominant carrier.

"With the continuing airline industry challenges, we cannot continue to serve two airports in Houston and realize the losses we have generated for years" at Bush, said Gary Kelly, Southwest's vice chairman and chief executive. "We are making an enormous commitment to Houston Hobby airport, making it the focal point of our future growth."

Kelly said earlier this month that the carrier may add flights at Hobby later this year, possibly to some new destinations.

"It is a growth market for us," Kelly said in reference to Houston during a conference call last week to report Southwest's earnings.

Southwest has 139 flights from Hobby and handles more than 80 percent of the passengers there.

Southwest on Thursday didn't disclose how much money it has been losing on the Bush service, for how long

[Hunter]

The majority of their flights have always gone out of Hobby anyway so it makes sence to me. Even when Hobby was in decline Southwest stuck to it. I say cudos to SW!