Southwest Airlines today unveiled six cities it plans to serve from Milwaukee beginning 1 November, bolstering competition with Midwest Airlines, AirTran Airways, US Airways, and Northwest Airlines.
Dallas-based Southwest on 20 May disclosed plans to add Milwaukee as its fourth new destination in 2009. Earlier this year the carrier launched flights from Minneapolis and New York LaGuardia, with flights to Boston Logan starting in August.
The carrier is serving some of its largest markets from Milwaukee including three daily nonstop flights to Baltimore, two daily flights to Las Vegas and a single daily flight to Phoenix.
Southwest is competing directly with AirTran on flights to Baltimore, while competitors on its Las Vegas flights are AirTran and Midwest. Schedules in Innovata show US Airways and Midwest both serve the Milwaukee-Phoenix market.
Midwest will be the lone competitor on Southwest's three daily flights from Milwaukee to Kansas City as Southwest joins both Midwest and AirTran in the Milwaukee-Orlando market with a single daily flight. On its new single daily flight from Milwaukee to Tampa Bay, Southwest is competing against AirTran, Midwest and Northwest Airlines.
Previously Southwest chief executive officer Gary Kelly has said Milwaukee is a good complement to the carrier's Chicago Midway operation, allowing the carrier access to the Northern Chicago catchment area.
Source: Air Transport Intelligence news
