A discussion about the airline industry, airline employees, and all things related

After their first two years in Denver, Southwest Airlines (LUV) is set to expand and expand big time.  The Dallas based airline will be adding 14 daily departures including 5 new destinations from Denver.  And the carrier is expected to announce more destinations in the upcoming weeks. 

"You will see more growth, and the rates of growth will be similar" to what the airline has done here in the past, said Martin Prichard, a schedule planner for Southwest.

Southwest is the number three carrier at Denver.  However, the situation where two major low cost carriers are battling out for passengers is something that might be seen more as fewer and fewer markets are open to such LCC’s. 

Denver’s other major carriers who both operate hubs in the city, Frontier and United, have held their own, especially Frontier against Southwest.  But the increased competition is excellent news for travelers.  With three major airlines in Denver, passengers are being treated to more options and lower fares. 

Southwest's growth "is helping the community because they are lowering fares and more people are flying, and DIA gleans more revenue from passenger facility charges," said Evergreen aviation consultant Mike Boyd.

After Southwest adds their new routes, the carrier will total 56 daily departures to 16 cities out of Denver. 

Rocky Mountain News