AP: Southwest Airlines starts Denver flights

Southwest Airlines starts Denver flights

Carrier had left the city in 1986

By Sandy Shore
ASSOCIATED PRESS

January 4, 2006

DENVER – Amid cheers and confetti, Southwest Airlines Co. launched its first Denver flights in 20 years yesterday as the discount carrier officially opened a fresh challenge to United, Frontier and other dominant airlines at the region's largest airport.

Southwest chief executive Gary Kelly told a crowd that healthy customer response has prompted the airline to expand its Denver service, beginning March 4, to two additional cities, Baltimore/Washington and Salt Lake City.

"We're here to stay," he said.

The airline will consider expanding even more in the months ahead, possibly to Texas and Florida, Kelly said later, but declined to be more specific. Initial bookings have been about normal in the slower travel period after the holidays.

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Dallas-based Southwest operated in Denver from 1983 to 1986 and decided against returning when Denver International Airport opened in 1995 because of costs. At the time, airlines paid an average of $16.85 per passenger in fees associated with landings, gate rent and other lease costs. That average dropped to an estimated $14.30 per passenger last year. Southwest started its new Denver service with 13 daily flights to Las Vegas, Chicago's Midway Airport and Phoenix.

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