Southwest Airlines will add 13 daily flights and six new nonstop destinations out of Denver International Airport in an expansion that will make the city Southwest’s seventh-largest station.
Southwest chief executive Gary Kelly, who announced the news while visiting employees in Denver on Thursday, said the new service will be implemented by May.
Southwest also is acquiring two additional gates on Concourse C at DIA and plans to hire more people to support the increased service.
Denver has been a success story for Southwest, Kelly said, adding that the Dallas-based carrier has “consistently invested flights and resources to support our growing Denver operation, and we’ll continue to do so.”
Kelly said Denver is the fastest- growing city in the company’s history. With the new service, Southwest will have 127 daily nonstop flights out of Denver to 43 cities. Southwest re-entered the Denver market in early 2006 with 13 daily nonstop flights.
“It’s been a remarkable three years,” Kelly said. “Denver has been a great market for us. . . . It’s a very, very attractive destination, and we have grown very, very rapidly.”
Southwest ranks third in market share at DIA. United has the largest share, followed by Frontier.
“We have always competed with them very well,” Frontier spokesman Steve Snyder said. “We’ve got the cost structure in place, and we have a lot more stability in the organization financially and in partnerships that will allow us to compete with them more.”
On Nov. 1, Southwest will add gates C33 and C34, bringing its DIA total to 12. Kelly said Southwest would like more, with plans to prepare for “more growth rather than getting shut out.” He noted that Concourse C has room for expansion.
Southwest will host a career fair from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Doubletree Hotel, 3203 Quebec St. Information will be provided about opportunities in Denver and other cities served by Southwest.
The new Denver service, which Kelly said is in response to demand, comes as Southwest eliminates unprofitable flights in places such as Florida, Texas and California.
Ann Schrader: 303-954-1967 or aschrader@denverpost.com
Southwest additions
Beginning March 14
Tickets went on sale Thursday
• Daily nonstop round trips to Hartford, Conn.; Boise, Idaho; Ontario, Calif.; Detroit; and Washington Dulles
• Third daily nonstop round trip to Oklahoma City
Beginning in May
Tickets go on sale in December
• Third daily nonstop round trips to Sacramento, Calif.; Tulsa, Okla.; Portland, Ore.; and Seattle
• Second daily nonstop round trip to New Orleans
• Fourth daily nonstop round trips to Oakland, Calif., and Baltimore/Washington
• Saturday-only nonstop round trip to New York LaGuardia (weekday service offered on one-stop basis)
