SWA Dulles-Orlando!!

[CPer'sMom]

Just heard the end of a news report this morning so I don't have all the info, but it was reported that SWA will begin flying from Dulles to MCO!! YAY No more trips up to BWI ~ although I have to say we really like the SW terminal there. I know it won't be even half as nice out at Dulles, but it will be a much shorter trip to the airport for us!

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Excerpt from "Airlines Struggle to Weather Summer Storms" by Keith L. Alexander, Washington Post, Tuesday, July 11, 2006:

Southwest's Dulles Flights: Southwest Airlines is expected to fly to four cities from Dulles International Airport when it begins service there in the fall. The airline, which will operate two gates at Dulles's B concourse, will fly to Las Vegas, Tampa, Orlando and Chicago's Midway International Airport.

Fares and the number of flights are expected to be released later this week. Sources close to the airline say Southwest plans to model its Dulles operations after its experience at Denver, where it started with 13 daily flights in January to Phoenix, Las Vegas and Chicago. Then within two months, the airline added other destinations, including Baltimore.

Southwest's arrival at Dulles means greater competition for carriers already operating on similar routes, such as JetBlue Airways, which flies nonstop between Dulles and Las Vegas, and United Airlines, which flies between Dulles -- a hub -- and Orlando and Tampa.​

 

[CPer'sMom]

Thanks for posting that info Wonder how soon they'll begin booking ~

 

[TDC Nala]

 

[n2mm]

I had heard this also and am happy to see a little competition at Dulles. Since FlyI left United is now the only non-stop to MCO, so we need some help in getting some lower fares. I've never flown SW, though my daughter does. BWI is too far for us to travel and we've never been happy about no assigned seating. I'll be watching to see how this works out. I still miss FlyI and Song at Dulles, I use to get good fares with both of them.

 

[mousy_in_canada]

I must say I LOVE this part of the article...

by Keith L. Alexander, Washington Post, Tuesday, July 11, 2006:

Fares and the number of flights are expected to be released later this week.

Means that the schedule SHOULD come out this week!!!!

 

[mtpalmer]

I am so excited..we live within an 1 hour to 1 1/2 hour from BWI, Dulles and Reagan so to have another option other than BWI of nonstop flights will be great( just cant bring myself to do a layover with two kids in tow)...Now if they will only publish those fares... I must check SW at least 5 times a day to see if they have opened up my dates for Nov..I have DING but am compeled to check that site everytime...Thanks for the update!!!

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Southwest has posted their press release with details about the Dulles service:

Southwest Airlines Does Dulles! Airline Announces Fares and Flights for Newest Destination​

Here are the first four paragraphs:

Southwest Airlines Does Dulles! Airline Announces Fares and Flights for Newest Destination

DALLAS, July 13 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Southwest Airlines (NYSE: LUV) Chief Executive Officer Gary Kelly announced Southwest's fares and flights today during a media conference at Washington Dulles International Airport. The airline starts service to its 63rd city on Oct. 5, 2006. Southwest will occupy two gates in the B Concourse and will initially have about 40 local Employees.

Southwest Airlines will begin its Dulles service with a total of 12 daily nonstop departures to the following cities: Chicago Midway (seven daily), Las Vegas (one daily), Orlando (two daily), and Tampa Bay (two daily). The airline will offer direct or connecting service to 35 other destinations such as Denver, Ft. Lauderdale/Hollywood, and Los Angeles.

"Dulles will be a fantastic complement to our Baltimore/Washington operation," Kelly said. "Our Customers in Washington, D.C., and the surrounding areas now have another excellent choice of airports when they want Southwest Airlines' convenient, low-fare service."

Southwest Airlines offers Dulles Customers its biggest discounts with advance purchase tickets. Customers can take advantage of 14-day advance fares as low as $79 one-way to Chicago Midway, Orlando, or Tampa Bay. Additionally, Customers can head to Las Vegas for as little as $99 one-way with Southwest Airlines' 14-day advance purchase fares. To take advantage of these low fares, see http://www.southwest.com/jp/luvhome.shtml?src=PR_iad_071306 . (See fare rules.)​

 

[TDC Nala]

I just booked IAD-MCO for October 28 - November 6. They only had two flights listed, morning and afternoon.

 

[Tink's Pixieduster]

WOO-HOO!!!

FINALLY!!! We're going down in Sept. and are a little disappointed that SWA won't start service until Oct., but we are planning another trip in the spring of '07, so this will give us a non-stop option besides TED. We're hoping that there might be some kind of reserved seat system on SWA by that time, but even if they don't have reserved seats we'll still look into their fares and schedules.

Guess now I have a reason to sign up for DING!

 

[TDC Nala]

Dulles is not listed as an available airport for DING fares.

 

[Tink's Pixieduster]

Dulles is not listed as an available airport for DING fares.

YET! (she said, ever the optimist).

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Please note that the press release indicates that there will be two daily Southwest flights between Washington Dulles International Airport and Orlando International Airport.