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Southwest Airlines started service this week at Richmond International Airport. The low-fare, no-frills carrier is entering the Richmond market initially with just one daily round-trip, nonstop flight to Orlando, Fla., the capital region\u2019s No. 3 destination with about 173,000 annual passengers. But while Southwest\u2019s arrival at RIC may have small short-term impact, in the long run, the airline could be crucial for the region\u2019s economic competitiveness.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen the American Airlines and US Airway merger goes through, then there\u2019ll be four (major) airlines left,\u201d said Jon E. Mathiasen, Richmond International\u2019s president and CEO. \u201cIt\u2019s important that Richmond has all of these carriers at its airport.\u201d
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\nRight now, five large airlines \u2014 Southwest, American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, United Airlines and US Airways \u2014 carry more than 80 percent of domestic airline traffic. \u201cAs a community, you want all five serving you,\u201d said Troy Bell, RIC\u2019s director of marketing and air service development. And the big five fly at Richmond, as well as Southwest\u2019s AirTran subsidiary and discount carrier JetBlue Airways.<\/p>\n
Southwest Airlines is America\u2019s largest low-fare carrier and it flies more domestic passengers than any airline \u2014 112 million passengers last year. Richmond International officials have sought Southwest\u2019s service for more than a quarter century.<\/p>\n
Historically, the Dallas-based carrier\u2019s entry into a market had produced lower fares and increased passenger traffic, a phenomenon called the \u201cSouthwest effect.\u201d Local officials think the Southwest effect could work its magic in Richmond, too. \u201cIt\u2019s a powerful brand. People make an instant association with low fares,\u201d Bell said. \u201cIt\u2019s a remarkable brand of service. They\u2019ve received slews of awards and accolades for what they do.\u201d<\/p>\n
Southwest is one of the most honored airlines in the world, known for its triple bottom line approach that takes into account the carrier’s performance and productivity, the importance of its People and the communities it serves, and its commitment to efficiency and the planet.<\/p>\n