ATLANTA — Southwest Airlines will start service to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport on Feb. 12, the airline announced Monday.
“We’re bringing especially great value to those of you who travel last-minute,” Southwest President, Chairman, and CEO Gary Kelly told the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce, according to a news release. “Here in Atlanta, our fully refundable, walk-up fares will be, on average, more than 30 percent lower than anything currently in these markets. And we are bringing the flexibility Southwest Customers already enjoy in other cities because we don’t charge a $150 fee simply to change your plans.”
Southwest said it will fly to 15 cities from Atlanta, including Chicago Midway; Austin, Texas; and Denver.
Last September, Southwest, which does not currently serve Atlanta, announced it was buying AirTran Airways for $1.4 billion. The combined airline’s operations are expected to be fully merged by 2012, officials previously said.
Dallas-based Southwest currently serves more than 70 cities, all in the United States. AirTran, based in Orlando, Fla., currently serves more than 65 cities in the United States, the Caribbean and Mexico.
“We’ve said all along that this deal to bring AirTran’s People, planes and places into the Southwest family is about offering more—more destinations and spreading more low fares farther, through the strength of our network,” Kelly said.
