Southwest Airlines announces schedule, fares for its new Minneapolis-Chicago service

Southwest Airlines, the low-cost airline based in Dallas, Texas, the United States, will launch a new service from Minneapolis-St Paul International Airport to Chicago Midway International Airport on March 8, 2009, with 8 daily round trips and $69 one-way fares.

In fact, Southwest Airlines had announced the new service on October 1, 2008, but had not then disclosed the number of flights or fares.

Southwest Airlines, with its largest focus-city at McCarran International Airport, Las Vegas, the United States, currently operates over 3,400 flights a day and has more than 34,000 employees system-wide.

In a statement, Ron Ricks, executive vice-president of Southwest Airlines, said the carrier would offer direct or connecting service to its other cities through Chicago.

The fares from the Twin Cities to Dallas Love Field Airport will be as low as $189 one way for advance purchase to $404 for Business Select tickets, and round-trip tickets would be twice that, plus governmental fees and taxes, Ron Ricks added.

Northwest Airlines and American Airlines, both United States-based carriers, have announced that they would offer non-stop flights from Minneapolis-St Paul International Airport to Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport in March 2009 for $438 round trip and $219 one way. At present, a one-way ticket costs $355 on American Airlines, and $745 on Northwest Airlines, plus taxes and fees.

In the statement, Ron Ricks said: “Southwest Airlines is famous for increasing traffic and decreasing fares when we enter a market, and it already appears that ‘the Southwest Effect’ is alive and well in Minneapolis-St Paul International Airport.  The people of Minnesota have been asking for Southwest Airlines’ service for many years, and we can’t wait to introduce them to our legendary Customer Service, as well as our low fares, on-time flights, and no hidden fees.”