Breaking...SWA Pulls out of DAY, CVG Bound..

Southwest Airlines is pulling services out of Dayton International Airport, according to a company spokesperson.

The airline will continue services through June 3. Southwest operates three daily departures to and from Chicago Midway. The airline is expected to announce services are coming to Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport, according to WCPO. A company spokesman declined to comment.




“Decisions to leave a city are never an easy decision,” said Dan Landson, spokesman for Southwest Airlines. “We have a responsibility to send our people and our places to where they are needed the most. Our main focus right now is on our impacted employees and assisting them to find positions throughout Southwest’s network so they remain among the 53,000 that make Southwest great. We truly appreciate the support shown by the Dayton community.”


*************THIS IS A DEVELOPING STORY****************************

Update: Incentives to CVG...
CVG will roll out its first-ever air service incentive program at the first of the year (2017), a plan that waives fees typically charged and dedicates certain dollar amounts to marketing support.

A new airline is eligible for funding, as are existing airlines that add service to specific new markets, both domestic and international.
There's 12 different packages overall – marketing support, for example, ranges from $50,000 for a minimum of 12 months of new seasonal service to Caribbean markets to $300,000 for two years for trans-Atlantic or trans-Pacific flights.
"As we go out and talk to airlines, we typically get 20 minutes; a lot of people call it speed dating," said Adam Kressler, director of air service development at CVG. "Eight out of 10 times, (they're) going to ask about our air service incentive package – and it's been a short conversation up to this point, because we didn't have it."

Southwest Airlines will open its new service at CVG with five daily roundtrips to Chicago Midway and three to Baltimore-Washington beginning June 4, officials said Wednesday afternoon.The highly-regarded low-cost airline, long targeted by airport officials, announced it is coming to Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky only a few hours after giving word that it is pulling out of Dayton International in June.
"We're thrilled to bring low fares and high-quality service," said Dave Harvey, Southwest managing director of business development. That includes two bags free and Boeing 757s (Note the Editorial Typo, 737's) instead of regional jets, Harvey said.

Harvey said he realizes people are anxious for more routes, especially to Florida, and suggested that could follow if initial routes are successful.

This will be a huge bonus for us. Great info.