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Southwest Airlines Arrival
Signals the Dawn of a New Era at Philadelphia International Airport
Philadelphia International Airport
(PHL) embarked on a new and exciting chapter in its long history when the
nation's No. 1 low-fare carrier, Southwest Airlines, inaugurated service on
Sunday, May 9. The milestone event has been greatly anticipated since Southwest
announced last October that it was coming to Philadelphia.
"This is
truly a remarkable occasion," said Charles J. Isdell, the City's Director of
Aviation. "Southwest Airlines is destined to have an enormous and positive
impact on air service in Philadelphia. Travelers from throughout the region
will benefit from unprecedented low fares on an airline that has consistently
established industry standards in outstanding customer service and reliability.
We are extremely pleased and excited to be a part of the Southwest family of
airports served."
Philadelphia is the 59th destination and
Pennsylvania the 31st state in the Southwest network.
Coinciding with
the arrival of Southwest, Krispy Kreme Doughnuts has opened a location in
Terminal E just outside the security checkpoint. It is the first airport store
in the nation for the popular retailer. There are now 13 concessions in
Terminal E, including 6 food and beverage locations.
Southwest, which
operates in only the continental U.S., will initiate service at PHL with 14
daily non-stop flights to Chicago-Midway, Providence, Tampa, Orlando, Las Vegas
and Phoenix. Connecting service is available to 31 additional cities.
Travelers in the Philadelphia region have responded so favorably to Southwest
that the airline has already announced additional service beginning July 6th.
At that time, the Dallas-based carrier will offer 14 more daily non-stops to
Houston-Hobby, New Orleans, Los Angeles, Ft. Lauderdale, Manchester, N.H.,
Raleigh-Durham, and West Palm Beach as well as another daily non-stop to Tampa.
Because of its sterling reputation in the air travel industry and its
track record of significantly increasing passenger traffic and dramatically
lowering fares at every airport it has entered, Southwest's business is coveted
by many airports. In 2002, it received requests for service from dozens of
destinations. Philadelphia is its first new city since it added Norfolk in
2001.
"We are honored to welcome Southwest to our family of low-fare
airlines, as we continue to provide the finest service and facilities for
travelers. The addition of Southwest will allow a greater choice of air service
for our valued customers," added Isdell.
For Information Contact:
Mark Pesce
(215) 937-6944
The Philadelphia Airport System is owned and operated by the City of
Philadelphia and is composed of Philadelphia International Airport and
Northeast Philadelphia Airport. The Airport System is a self-sustaining
entity that operates without the use of local tax dollars. It is one of
the largest economic engines in Pennsylvania, generating an estimated $8
billion in spending to the regional economy and employing a workforce of
nearly 22,000.
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