Southwest expands service while American cuts back

As a clear sign that US discount carrier, Southwest Airlines, is successfully weathering the current economic storm and high fuel prices, both of which continue to engulf the commercial airline industry, the low-cost carrier has announced the opening of several new routes. This is especially noteworthy, considering that it is happening at a time when most other US carriers, including American Airlines, are reducing capacity, cutting routes and grounding planes. Southwest, however, will now offer new, regularly scheduled flights between Denver and Orange County (California), Denver and Tulsa, as well as new routes connecting Fort Lauderdale to Kansas City, Las Vegas and Albany (New York).

In stark contrast to this situation, American Airlines has announced that several of its regular routes will soon face the chopping block and service will decrease at several key airports, such as Miami International, while operations will be suspended altogether in Oakland, California and at London’s Stansted Airport.

American Airlines also made headlines today after it announced that passengers would have to pay an additional $15 for over-sized cabin bags. As such, those passengers who had planned to avoid paying checked baggage fees by bring larger items on board with them had best think again.

www.southwest.com