Dallas-based Southwest Airlines Co. announced Wednesday that start service to Pittsburgh International Airport in May.
Southwest’s move comes on the heels of US Airways Group‘s disastrous performance over the holiday season and the troubled airline’s service cuts at the airport. US Airways has gradually cut about half of its flights from Pittsburgh since the September 11, 2001 attacks on New York and Washington.
This is Southwest’s second move to compete directly with US Airways in Pennsylvania over the past year. In early 2004, Southwest entered the Philadelphia market that US Airways used to dominate, a move that has already increased traffic and lowered fares there. Southwest’s venture into Pittsburgh continues its countercyclical growth, which is reflected by its 10% capacity increase over the past year while most of the other airlines have been reeling.
By continuing to execute its tried and true low-cost business plan, Southwest has been able to remain profitable during the airline industry’s troubled period since the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks, and its strong liquidity position is unparalleled in the airline industry.