Southwest Airlines plans to launch service to Sarasota Bradenton International Airport
Southwest Airlines plans to launch service to Sarasota Bradenton International Airport in the first quarter of 2021.
Southwest, the world’s largest low-cost carrier, and one of the airlines most requested by passengers at SRQ, disclosed the plan in a filing today with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The filing with the SEC did not indicate the destinations that Southwest would serve from SRQ.
“It’s fabulous. We had multiple meetings with multiple partners and a lot of help from the two tourist development boards and the two chambers of commerce. This was a true community effort,” said Rick Piccolo, airport president and CEO.
In a Southwest press release late Thursday morning, the company said service details, including the initial flight schedule and fares for Sarasota-Bradenton, will be announced soon.
“We’ll arrive in Sarasota-Bradenton as Southwest marks 25 years of serving the Sunshine State. Our Customers who choose SRQ will land closer to their preferred beaches and business meetings, benefiting from our added investment in the growing region between our longtime cities of Tampa Bay and Ft. Myers,” Steve Goldberg, Southwest Airlines senior vice president of operations and hospitality said. “Locals who fly Southwest can also pair their preferred airline and airport, and get in the air faster with a shorter drive to SRQ.”
Southwest last served SRQ in 2012 with its AirTran operation.
“This is a real milestone for us, adding another significant carrier. We think this will help us in our recovery from the challenges facing all airports,” Piccolo said.
The COVID-19 pandemic brought passenger traffic to a virtual standstill at SRQ and airports across the country in April. The local airport, which had been among the fastest growing in the United States before the pandemic, led in large part by the arrival of low-cost Allegiant, has been recovering its footing faster than most other U.S. airports.
On Wednesday, SRQ reported that JetBlue was starting new service to Newark Liberty Airport.
In October, passenger traffic at SRQ climbed to 69 percent of the 2019 level, an improvement over September when traffic was at 53 percent of the same month in 2019.
In its SEC filing today, Southwest said that it expects its fourth quarter 2020 capacity to decrease approximately 40 percent, year-over-year. Southwest recently adjusted its January 2021 published flight schedule, and currently estimates its January 2021 capacity to decrease in the range of 35 to 40 percent, year-over-year.
“Passenger demand and booking trends remain primarily leisure-oriented and inconsistent by region, and the Company continues to plan for multiple scenarios for its fleet and capacity plans. The Company will continue to monitor demand and booking trends and adjust capacity, as deemed necessary, on an ongoing basis,” Southwest said in the filing.
Southwest has resumed selling all available seats for travel beginning Dec. 1, 2020.
“This decision was aligned with science-based findings from trusted medical and aviation organizations. According to research put forth by several reputable institutions, all arriving at the same conclusion — the risk of breathing COVID-19 particles on an airplane is virtually non-existent, with the combination of face covering requirements; a sophisticated air distribution system that results in an exchange of cabin air every two to three minutes; and HEPA filters that remove 99.97 percent of airborne particles1, similar to technology found in hospitals. These science-based findings from trusted medical and aviation organizations gave the Company confidence to sell all available seats for travel beginning December 1, 2020.,” the company said.
In addition to the service at SRQ, Southwest said it expects to commence new service to Miami International Airport and Palm Springs International Airport on Nov. 15; Montrose Regional Airport (Telluride and Crested Butte) and Yampa Valley Regional Airport (Steamboat Springs) on Dec. 19; Chicago O’Hare International Airport on Feb. 14; Colorado Springs Municipal Airport on March 11; and Houston’s George Bush Intercontinental Airport, Savannah/Hilton Head International Airport, and Jackson-Medgar Wiley Evers International Airport in first half 2021.
This story was originally published November 12, 2020 at 9:35 AM.
