Southwest Airlines Celebrates 15 Years of Denver Service

Southwest first launched flights from Denver International Airport on Jan. 3, 2006

DENVER – January 4, 2021 – Southwest Airlines celebrates 15 years of serving Denver International Airport (DEN) in 2021. The carrier inaugurated service in the Mile High City on Jan. 3, 2006, with 13 daily departures to three destinations – Chicago-Midway (MDW), Las Vegas (LAS) and Phoenix (PHX). Today Denver is the largest operation in the Southwest network, averaging 174 departures a day in 2020 and connecting Denver nonstop to more than 70 destinations in 36 U.S. states and Mexico.

“For 15 years Southwest has been a great partner and we’re so pleased the airline continues to grow in Denver, offering nonstop service to more than 70 destinations,” said DEN CEO Kim Day. “We are grateful for Southwest’s commitment to DEN and look forward to many more successful years, including the opening of 16 new Southwest gates on Concourse C-East in 2022.”

During the past 15 years, Southwest has carried more than 175 million passengers through DEN. Notably, Southwest is the largest carrier of domestic origination and destination (O&D) traffic in Denver. In 2020 alone, Southwest expanded its connectivity to Denver with the addition of seven new routes, including winter season service three times daily between Denver and both Steamboat Springs/Hayden and Montrose that began Dec. 19 and runs through April 5. Southwest has announced four new routes for Denver coming this year, including nonstop service to Colorado Springs beginning March 11.

“Our consistent investment in Colorado is a reflection of sustained support from local Southwest Customers who travel with us for vacations, business trips, visits with friends and family—all important moments in their lives that inspire our work to make these connections for Coloradans,” said Jason Van Eaton, Southwest Airlines Senior Vice President of Governmental Affairs and Real Estate. “We’ll continue to partner with Kim and her excellent team at Denver International Airport in the chapter of recovery ahead, by pairing our flexible policies and value with the airport’s awarded passenger experience, underscoring our Dedication to Denver for decades to come.”

Southwest has made tremendous investment in Denver during this time, including the opening of crew bases for Pilots and Flight Attendants in 2012, and the May 2019 groundbreaking of a 130,000-square foot maintenance hangar scheduled to open in first quarter 2022. Southwest signed a lease in February 2020 for 16 additional gates at DEN which, when completed in 2022, will provide the carrier usage of 40 gates total at DEN through 2035.

Today Southwest directly employs more than 4300 people in Denver. Locally based Southwest Employees have logged more than 46,000 hours in volunteer Community service that reaches far beyond the airport. Southwest has supported nearly 600 Denver area organizations with more than $3.2 million in total giving.

Denver International Airport is one of the busiest airports in the world. DEN is the primary economic engine for the state of Colorado, generating more than $36 billion for the region annually. For more information visit www.FlyDenver.com, check us out on YouTube and Instagram, like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter. Sign up for DEN’s monthly newsletter Nonstop News.

Southwest Airlines: In its 50th year of service, Dallas-based Southwest Airlines Co. continues to differentiate itself from other air carriers with exemplary Customer Service delivered by nearly 58,000 Employees to a Customer base that topped 130 million passengers in 2019. Southwest has the nation’s most robust point-to-point, non-stop route network, with a strong presence in top leisure and business markets. In peak travel seasons during 2019, Southwest operated more than 4,000 weekday departures among a network of 101 destinations in the United States and 10 additional countries. In 2020, the carrier added service to Hilo, Hawaii; Cozumel, Mexico; Miami; Palm Springs, Calif., as well as seasonal destinations Steamboat Springs/Hayden and Montrose (Telluride and Crested Butte) in Colorado. In 2021, Southwest will begin service to both Chicago (O’Hare) and Sarasota/Bradenton on Feb. 14; both Savannah/Hilton Head and Colorado Springs on March 11; Houston (Bush) on April 12; and Jackson, Miss., on June 6. The carrier has announced an intention to add service in the second quarter of 2021 in Fresno and Santa Barbara.

The carrier issued its Southwest® Promise in May 2020 to highlight new and round-the-clock efforts to support its Customers and Employees wellbeing and comfort. Among the changes are enhanced cleaning efforts at airports and onboard aircraft, and face covering requirements for Customers and Employees. Additional details about the Southwest Promise are available at Southwest.com/Promise.

Southwest coined Transfarency® to describe its purposed philosophy of treating Customers honestly and fairly, and low fares actually staying low. Southwest is the only major U.S. airline to offer bags fly free® to everyone (first and second checked pieces of luggage, size and weight limits apply, some carriers offer free checked bags on select routes or in qualified circumstances). Southwest does not charge change fees, though fare differences might apply.

Southwest is one of the most honored airlines in the world, known for a triple bottom line approach that contributes to the carrier’s performance and productivity, the importance of its People and the communities they serve, and an overall commitment to efficiency and the planet. Learn more about how the carrier gives back to communities across the world by visiting Southwest.com/citizenship.

Book Southwest Airlines’ low fares online at Southwest.com or by phone at 800-I-FLY-SWA.

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