HOUSTON — Southwest Airlines is now back at Houston Bush Intercontinental Airport.
Monday was the first day a Southwest Airlines plane flew into IAH in 16 years.
The airline will operate 15 daily non-stop departures to five destinations from IAH's Terminal A. Those locations include Chicago (Midway), Dallas (Love Field), Denver, Nashville and New Orleans.
Southwest will continue normal operations at Hobby Airport.
“Southwest Airlines, which remains a key employer in the city of Houston with its 4,000 employees, will continue the majority of air service offering at Hobby Airport,” Houston Airports Director Mario Diaz said.
Earlier this month, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention relaxed travel recommendations for the fully vaccinated, saying those folks do not to be tested for COVID-19 or quarantined. While it still advises essential travel only, more than a million people are now flying each day, according to the TSA.
“Houston Airports supports and applauds this decision by Southwest Airlines to grow air service offerings in Houston during a time when air carriers are doing what they can to recover from the effects of the pandemic and once again reach a point of profitability," Diaz said. “Southwest Airlines will continue its exceptional service and operations out of HOU, and its new service out of IAH will only complement its current offerings.”
Southwest executives said they're seeing a steady increase in passenger traffic.
“April of 2020 was the low point in passenger traffic. We've seen steady increase since then. At this point, we are 50% recovered, meaning we are about 45% down in traffic levels," Southwest Chief of Marketing Molly Waits said.
“We are really starting to see some of that pent-up demand. It's led by leisure, beaches and mountains,” Southwest Vice President of Business Dave Harvey said.
While the airline industry is pushing for vaccine passports, President Joe Biden's administration said it will not mandate them.
Bottom line? The forecast is for more air travel as we approach summer and more long-range growth for Southwest, already a key player in the Bayou City.
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