Southwest Airlines continues work to drive network strength in the US market

By YE2014 Southwest Airlines aims to complete many major milestones, including the completion of AirTran, a project that will have taken roughly four years to complete. As the AirTran name and brand retire, Southwest is also instituting what it believes are several key network changes as it works to leverage the benefits both of a refined combined Southwest-AirTran network and the long-awaited repeal of the Wright Amendment that prohibits longer-haul flights from Dallas Love Field.

Even as the lifting of the Wright Amendment allows Southwest to operate direct flights to key business destinations from Dallas, it faces new competition in its home market from Virgin America. At the same time the airline is utilising slots at Washington National to enlarge its presence in the Washington DC metro area and adding new service from Washington Dulles.