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Southwest starts SFO service

Old 02-09-2007, 06:45 AM
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Default Southwest starts SFO service

Well, first it was Virgin American. Then JetBlue less than a month ago. Now Southwest...


Carrier Says Airport's Efficiency and Cost Improvements Key in Decision to Return

DALLAS, Feb. 9 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Southwest Airlines today announced its intent to resume service at San Francisco International Airport. The carrier has not released specific service details or a timeline, only saying that it is currently in discussions with the Airport and that it aims to return to the West Bay in a meaningful way in the early fall.


"San Francisco International is the only major Bay Area airport we don't currently serve, having made a very difficult decision in 2001 to cease service there after nearly 20 years. Today, SFO has improved operationally and is a more cost-efficient airport, and Southwest is a far larger airline than it was in 2001 and better able to support this type of operation," said Gary Kelly, Southwest's Vice Chairman and CEO.

For photos and Southwest's California facts, visit: http://www.southwest.com/about_swa/p...ml?ref=sfo_pre ss_070208 .

Southwest Airlines initiated service at SFO in October 1982 with four nonstop flights to Las Vegas, with direct or connecting service to cities like Houston, El Paso, Albuquerque, and Austin. At the time it ceased service on March 4, 2001, Southwest had 14 nonstop departures to San Diego and Phoenix.

"The business reasons for leaving San Francisco in 2001 were clear," Kelly said. "Back then, facility and runway constraints meant we could not compete and be profitable, and there was no growth potential beyond the 14 flights we had at the time. Frankly, we had demand at our other California airports that we knew would be successful. It made more sense to leave.

"The Airport Commission, under the leadership of Mayor Gavin Newsom and Commission President Larry Mazzola, has made SFO a more attractive venue for true low fare carriers like Southwest. Working closely with SFO Director John L. Martin, Southwest was excited to learn of the constructive changes at SFO, so now it makes even more sense to return."

Mayor Newsom welcomed the news, saying: "this is a big win for Bay Area passengers, particularly those located on the Peninsula and in San Francisco, as they will no longer have to travel across the Bay Bridge to avail themselves of Southwest's vast network. It makes environmental sense for passengers to avail themselves of the airports nearest their homes."

Southwest says today's announcement does not affect its commitment at Oakland International, where it has 142 daily departures; or Norman Y Mineta San Jose International, where it has 77 daily departures.

"Similar to the Washington, D.C., metro area where we serve Baltimore/Washington International and Washington Dulles International; or the Los Angeles area where we serve LAX, Ontario, Burbank, and Orange County; or the Boston metro area where we serve from Providence, RI and Manchester, NH; the Bay Area is large enough to support complementary service from three airports," Kelly said. "We've never questioned that."

Southwest says it will release more details of its future service to San Francisco in the coming months.
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Old 02-09-2007, 06:01 PM
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Yes Ryane, it's rather interesting, isn't it? SFO has become the new battleground for LCC's. Everyone wants to jump on that Pacific Rim business bonanza that United currently leads. Of course they all want to get entrenched before Virgin gets approved. I'm wondering which terminals and gates all of these new or returning airlines will be using?
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Old 02-10-2007, 09:35 AM
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Spirit WAS using the international terminal (A gates?). Along with AirTran.
Supposedly going to start again in MAY. ("seasonal"????)
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Old 02-11-2007, 04:48 AM
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Now if SWA will just come to ATL.....
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Old 02-11-2007, 05:19 AM
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Didn't SWA pull out of SFO a couple years ago?
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Old 02-11-2007, 06:19 AM
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Originally Posted by Velocipede View Post
Didn't SWA pull out of SFO a couple years ago?
Ummm, yeah that's what the article said.
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Old 02-11-2007, 09:05 AM
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Originally Posted by Skygirl View Post
Yes Ryane, it's rather interesting, isn't it? SFO has become the new battleground for LCC's. Everyone wants to jump on that Pacific Rim business bonanza that United currently leads. Of course they all want to get entrenched before Virgin gets approved. I'm wondering which terminals and gates all of these new or returning airlines will be using?
I transited recently as a pax from alaska's gate to united gates and there was a whole terminal that wasn't even being used. I think it used to be the international terminal. As I walked by it, I thought maybe this is where Virgin gates are going. Now I can see someone at SWA figured out a better use. Having flown in and out of SFO for many years I do see a better ATC flow in and out, maybe its because the frequencies in the last years for UAL were reduced. I also think the ILS PRM's should help especially when the fog rolls in (haven't done one yet). I think its good since I would rather we all have more choices in the bay area.
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Old 02-11-2007, 10:06 AM
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That's T2, and yes, I think that is where all the LCC's are going. SFO was going to revamp T2 after the new international terminal was built, but then 9/11 happened and traffic has dropped of since. SFO used to be one of the top 10 busiest airports in the world, but now it is behind one's like Phoenix, Vegas, Detroit, Minneapolas, Orlando...
It is kind of sad.

The problem is there are 4 runways, they all intersect, and the CENTERLINES of the typical landing runways (28L/R) are only 750ft apart, (that's 550ft separation from the edge of each runway). If you have ever looked out your window to see a 757 550ft away while on approach (seen it many times), you know how crazy those approaches can be in bad weather. Simulataneous approaches are a NO NO when the fog rolls in. All SFO needs to do is move 28R about 1/2 mile to the north (into the bay), but there are too many environmentalist wining and complaining. I have lived in the Bay Area my whole life, I love the environment here, it is amazing, but c'mon, give us a little dirt in the bay for the sake of our airport and ultimately our economy!!
SOIA (Simulataneous Offset Instrument Approaches) have really helped SFO. Instead of arrivals going from 60+/hr to 30/hr when the fog rolls in, they can now accomidate 40 planes/hr.

Meanwhile SJC and OAK have been huge leaps in passenger traffic over the past several years, even though it is clear that more bay area residents prefer SFO. Virgin America wants to fly out of there. JetBlue just announced a lot of service. Frontier is making SFO a focus city. Alaska has started a ton of Mexico flights. Now Southwest wants in. All we need is that damn runway moved a little.
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