Southwest Airlines Plans to Create Low Cost Airline-Cheap Flights

Monday should see Southwest Airlines complete its purchase of AirTran and create the first mega–low-cost airline on the United States, with resultant cheap flights!

The Justice Department when giving its approval to the merger indicated that the entrance of the new airline into competition with airlines such as Delta and American is likely to influence cheap tickets. It is not anticipated that competition will be reduced to a great degree and it will enable new routes to be served.

Southwest is already transporting more passengers on domestic flights than any other American airline. When it is combined with AirTran, it plans to service over 100 cities. Reports indicate, that full integration of the two airlines, will take twelve to eighteen months to implement.

The general consensus of opinion is that the merged airlines and the creation of a single carrier, offering cheap flights and cheap tickets, will make an impressive impact on the market.

Other views put forward suggest that some preferential business passengers, used to travelling in the reserved, business-class with AirTran may not favour the open-seat and single-class cabins of Southwest. This comfort may be preferred to cheap flights and cheap tickets.

Although Southwest has established itself in the market with cheap flights and cheap tickets in comparison to the legacy carriers, there are those in the industry, who expect an eventual rise in airline prices. This ism primarily based on the shrinkage of the competition, contributed to with the past merging of Delta-Northwest in 2008 and Continental-United last year.

American Airlines Return Flights Service From Chicago to Dublin

Inclined towards Ireland for your next vacation? American Airlines is re-launching Chicago flights to Dublin, returning nonstop competition to the 3,656-mile run.

American will start flying Boeing 767-300s on the route beginning April 5. Right now, Aer Lingus offers the only nonstop service between the megahub that is Chicago O’Hare and the Irish capital. It connects the two cities with an A330.

American will ply the longish route daily. Chicago flights to Dublin depart O’Hare at 6:45 p.m., arriving Dublin at 8:00 a.m. the following morning. Assuming you got a decent night’s sleep on board, that leaves plenty of time to check into your hotel, wash up and see the sights.

A Cheapflights’ suggestion: fight the urge to immediately sleep when you arrive. Try to make it through the day and get to bed about 8 p.m. That will help re-set your clock faster. Avoid caffeine. That will keep you awake.

The return Dublin flight to Chicago departs Dublin at 10:00 a.m. and arrives O’Hare at 12:05 p.m., allowing ample time to make most onward connections.

The great thing about American’s new flight is that you deplane in Chicago as a domestic, not an international flyer. That’s because you will already have cleared customs and immigration in Dublin, in Terminal 2. Instead of queuing up with all the other international arrivals at O’Hare, just get off the plane, go to your next gate to catch your connection – or head home.

Airline Tickets : Southwest Airlines Increasing Airfares $4 to $10 per Roundtrip Ticket

Southwest Airlines, one of the busiest carriers at Raleigh-Durham International Airport, is raising fares for the first time in 2011.

The increase of $4 to $10 per roundtrip ticket is being matched by other major airlines including American, Delta, United, Continental and US Airways, The Associated Press reports.

Southwest spokesman Brad Hawkins told AP that the increases will help offset higher fuel and operating costs. Airlines, which lost billions in 2008 and 2009, turned profitable last year, fueled partly by higher ticket prices and various fees. Most carriers are expected to make money again this year.

Southwest raised prices $2 each way on trips up to 500 miles, $3 for 501 to 1,000 miles, and $5 each way on longer flights, AP reports.

American Airlines Cutting 921 Flight Attendant Jobs

American Airlines is cutting 921 flight attendant jobs as it deals with a continuing downturn in passenger traffic and revenue.

American, the nation’s second-largest airline, said the cuts would take effect Oct. 1 and reduce its flight attendant ranks by 6%.
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