Southwest to land in Richmond

Long-sought Southwest Airlines is coming to Richmond International Airport.

Dallas-based Southwest confirmed Friday that it will gradually convert AirTran Airways operations at 22 domestic and international airports, including RIC, to Southwest stations. No specific timetable was given.

As U.S. airline service has contracted in the recession, local business and community leaders have feared low-cost carrier Southwest would drop Richmond from its system, leaving the capital region stuck with poorer service and higher fares.

"It's great news," said Kim Scheeler, president and CEO of the Greater Richmond Chamber. "It's another hurdle we've gotten over."

Southwest's announcement is an unequivocal boost for Richmond air travelers, said University of Richmond transportation economist George E. Hoffer. "It's our safety net that keeps us from being abused farewise."

Southwest carried more domestic passengers — 92.5 million — than any other U.S. airline in the January-October 2011 period, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation's latest figures. AirTran ranked seventh in the nation during the same period, with 20 million passengers.

"Southwest is really a game-changer" for Richmond airline fliers, said Troy Bell, RIC's director of marketing and air service development. "If you're a community that's focused on quality of life and economic development, you definitely want to be part of Southwest's route map."

The air carrier's flights span the country, potentially opening up destinations in the Southwest and on the West Coast to area travelers at discount prices. Richmond International does not now have nonstop air service to destinations west of Dallas.

According to the airline, Southwest Airlines' average passenger fare is $142.31 one way, and the average length of a passenger trip is 969 miles.

About 3.2 million air travelers use Richmond International annually, according to the Capital Region Airport Commission.

In November, the last month for which figures are available, AirTran carried 9.7 percent of RIC's passengers. The market leader is Delta Air Lines, which had 29.3 percent of the airport's passenger load in November.

Southwest, the nation's only consistently profitable major airline, bought AirTran last year and is in the process of merging the two airlines.

"We are committed to continuing to serve these (22) communities — at first via AirTran, and eventually as Southwest," Bob Jordan, Southwest's executive vice president and chief commercial officer and president of AirTran, said in a statement.

"We know there are Southwest customers who want access to these cities but have never before had the opportunity," Jordan said, "and the markets have long desired Southwest service."

Besides keeping service at RIC, Southwest will continue AirTran service at Reagan Washington Airport in Northern Virginia. Southwest already uses Washington Dulles International Airport.

AirTran announced in August that it will discontinue service at Newport News/Williamsburg International Airport on March 9. AirTran said Friday that it will stop operating at six other airports by Aug. 12.

Of the 69 cities AirTran served when Southwest bought it, 53 cities will convert to full Southwest service, the airline said.

"There are some markets that we simply cannot make work in the current fuel environment," Jordan said, "so we've had to make the decision to discontinue service in those locations."

Scheeler said the Richmond region and many chamber members have worked hard to make this happen.

"Now we need to go the next mile and prove that we are a market that is ripe for expansion," Scheeler said. "Right now, we need to continue to fly AirTran whenever we can to keep our community in a good light with the planners at Southwest."

Nine airlines now serve RIC. AirTran has five daily flights out of Richmond: four to Atlanta and one to Orlando.

Discount carrier JetBlue Airways also serves Richmond, flying to Boston, Orlando and Fort Lauderdale, Fla. JetBlue dropped its Richmond-New York service in 2010, saying not enough higher-paying business passengers were using the service.