Southwest gives Memphis a tiny shot in the arm through new AirTran service

Memphis International Airport is getting a small boost during 2H2013 when Southwest, through its AirTran subsidiary, adds service to Baltimore, Chicago Midway and Orlando in Aug-2013. The new service being introduced by AirTran could possibly help combat the airport's declining traffic stemming from Delta's ongoing pull-down of its Memphis hub. AirTran is not directly replacing service to the smaller markets Delta is pulling down in Memphis, but Southwest appears ready to make a larger commitment to the airport as it works to usher in its own branded flights from Memphis later in 2013.

At the same time, Southwest appears to be eliminating some marginal markets from its network as the busy travel season in the US winds down, including the first route cut from Greenville/Spartanburg, South Carolina, a market Southwest inaugurated in Mar-2011. One of the initial markets from Greenville - Orlando, Florida - is being cut during 2H2013. Southwest is also taking over service operated by AirTran in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and adding its own branded flights to some of its larger markets.