Southwest Airlines Launches Flights from Atlanta

US low-cost carrier Southwest Airlines this week inaugurated its own branded flights from Atlanta’s Hartsfield Jackson International Airport, joining its sister carrier AirTran Airways at the world’s busiest commercial airport. The airline is initially offering 15 flights across a network of five destinations - Austin, Baltimore/Washington, Chicago Midway, Denver, and Houston (Hobby) – but has already revealed plans to ramp-up its operations with flights to Las Vegas and Phoenix starting March 10, to Los Angeles from June 10 and to Louisville, Norfolk/Virginia Beach and Seattle from August 12.

“We're opening Southwest service to Atlanta with more flights than our traditional start, and we have big plans for the city,” said Gary Kelly, Chairman, President and CEO, Southwest Airlines at an event to celebrate its new flights. “"Our service from Atlanta brings greatly reduced fares with new flexibility and value for both leisure and business customers.”

Although Southwest Airlines acquired AirTran Airways in May 2010 the two companies continue to operate as separate carriers. They are now working towards obtaining a single Air Operators Certificate (AOC) during the first quarter of this year and have already coordinated their networks to maximise synergies ahead of the completion of the deal and ultimately the retirement of the AirTran brand.

With the addition of Atlanta, Southwest Airlines adds Georgia, as its 38th State, to a network map now totaling 73 US airports. As of today, AirTran also serves 52 cities non-stop from Atlanta Hartsfield Jackson International Airport, including international routes to Mexico and the Caribbean.

As the table below shows, AirTran Airways is currently the second largest operator from Atlanta with a 14.4 per cent share of the available seat capacity. This position will be further strengthened when its own flights are integrated into the expanded 2012 offering of Southwest Airlines.