Southwest Airlines Chairman and CEO Gary Kelly today is sharing the following message with the Employees of Southwest:
I’m pleased to share with you all that today we’re announcing our intention to serve three more destinations and continue our focus on putting our aircraft to work to pursue more Customers and much-needed revenue.
And the destinations are (drum roll!) MYR , EUG and BLI —three very different and appealing locations to both serve our existing Customers and places where we feel Southwest can make a real difference for local travelers.
We’re looking to start Myrtle Beach service in time for summer vacations and we expect our arrival to appeal to travelers who currently drive to this very popular coastal area in the Southeast. ‘Golf bags fly free’* should be very popular for Myrtle Beach service!
Eugene is about two hours south of Portland, and it’s ripe for the Southwest Effect, our Hospitality, and our flexible policies, with no hidden fees, and low fares.
Southwest service in Bellingham positions us just south of metro Vancouver, British Colombia. Following the reopening of the Canadian border, we expect a return of the value-minded travelers who already drive to this alternative airport to escape high fares and taxes—and that’s very, very typical for Southwest destinations. Southwest provides a great value for them.