Tag Archives: airlines routes

Southwest Announces New Service to Charleston and Greenville-Spartanburg

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Well, one out of two ain’t bad.

Three weeks ago, after returning from my BMW Performance Driving School experience in Greenville, S.C. with the folks from Travelport , I told PlaneBusiness Banter subscribers that it appeared that Southwest Airlines was coming to town.

Ding. I am now free to accept heaps of praise that I called the new city correctly.

However, the airline one-upped me today as it announced it was not only starting service to Greenville-Spartanburg, but to Charleston as well.

Oh well. I didn’t go to Charleston. Maybe if I had I would have been able to out them on that announcement as well. Heh.

Interesting that in the press release noting the new service, the airline bent over backwards to note that service to both cities is *without subsidies.* It is even in the sub-head of the press release headline.

Hmmmm.

According to the release, “The airline’s service will not be dependent on pending legislation to provide air service subsidies.”

Guess that’s a little sideways jab at AirTran — the subsidy kings?

Yes, well, Southwest received its own basket of goodies in return for flying into Northwest Florida.

Boys, boys, boys. Let’s just play nice.

With or without subsidy, I like both choices.