Southwest Begins Nonstop Flights to Atlanta
Southwest is now flying to a new and long-anticipated destination: Atlanta.
Southwest Now Flying to Atlanta
The low-cost carrier hopes to take advantage of big-spending business travelers who have made Atlanta a regular destination, but leisure travelers are welcoming the move as well.
The new competition is already being impacted by what some have called the “Southwest effect”. As airfare analyst Rick Seaney notes, “The price point on nonstop flights between Chicago and Atlanta is down on average about 10-15% from the start of the year.”
New Cities with Nonstop Service to Atlanta
As of now, Southwest offers daily nonstop flights between Atlanta and these five destinations:
- Austin
- Baltimore/Washington
- Chicago Midway
- Denver
- Houston Hobby
Future Cities with Nonstop Service to Atlanta
Look for more nonstop service to and from Atlanta and the following cities later this year:
- Las Vegas: Starts March 10
- Phoenix: Starts March 10
- Los Angeles: Starts June 10
- Louisville: Starts Aug. 12
- Norfolk/Virginia Beach: Starts Aug. 12
- Seattle: Starts Aug. 12
The Big Squeeze: Southwest Adds More Seats per Plane
Good Deals Available but No Fare War
Southwest has launched special introductory pricing to celebrate its brand new destination and these special deals to and from Atlanta prompted airfare analyst Rick Seaney to say, “that’ll mean heartburn for Delta” which is headquartered there. However, Seaney also noted that there is not a huge fare war underway because high oil prices have focused airlines on staying profitable.
Among the better deals available on Southwest’s new nonstops to Atlanta: $91 one-way fares to/from Chicago and Baltimore. Seaney says that price point is down on average about 10 percent to 15 percent. Meanwhile, AirTran – which Southwest announced it would acquire a year and a half ago – is offering similar deals to Atlanta.
