Southwest cuts 2 routes, adds another in latest network adjustment
Southwest Airlines is making some route-map changes that are focused on its California connectivity.
The Dallas-based carrier filed plans over the weekend to drop two domestic routes from Southern California early next year, as first seen in Cirium schedules and later confirmed by a carrier spokesperson.
Specifically, the airline will exit two routes from John Wayne Airport (SNA) in Orange County. The airline will drop service from SNA to both Chicago's Midway International Airport (MDW) and Salt Lake City International Airport (SLC) on Jan. 4, 2023.
While Salt Lake City will lose one Southwest route to California, it’s picking up another one as part of this latest network update.
Southwest will commence flights between SLC and Long Beach Airport (LGB) on Jan. 5, 2023. The new Long Beach service will operate once a day through the end of the schedule.
Interestingly, Southwest’s Orange County adjustments come just a few weeks after the local aviation authorities announced the annual departure slot allocation for the SNA airport.
Southwest was awarded 44 daily departures with an annual capacity allocation of 4,715,800 seats for 2023, according to the County of Orange Airport Division.
This represents a net decrease of 13 daily departures compared to the 2022 allocation, airport data shows. Southwest was awarded 57 daily departures and an annual seat capacity of 6,020,310 in 2022.
As such, it’s possible that these two route cuts are a result of the annual slot allocation process. In addition to the route cuts, Southwest pulled back capacity at John Wayne Airport by about 15% in this week's schedule update, Cirium data shows.
Securing takeoff and landing rights in Orange County is notoriously competitive.
SNA is popular among both locals and visitors who prefer to avoid the much larger and busier Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).
Additionally, airlines like to tap into the airport’s catchment area, which is one of the most affluent in the nation. (American Airlines made headlines during the pandemic for launching a new transcontinental flight to New York, operated by its swankiest three-cabin jet.)
Southwest has historically been the largest carrier in Orange County, operating nearly twice as many flights as its second-largest local competitor.
In 2019, Southwest scheduled nearly 30,000 flights to and from SNA, whereas the airport’s second-largest carrier, Alaska Airlines, scheduled just over 18,000 flights during the same 12-month period, Cirium schedules show.
The Orange County authorities use slots to limit the amount of air traffic in the area. Though there’s no federally mandated slot program at SNA in the traditional sense (to control capacity), local officials cap commercial passenger traffic for noise abatement and other reasons.
For its part, Southwest said that these changes are part of a broader strategy of remaining competitive in the Los Angeles area, as noted in the statement below.
We’re more than two decades into being the largest air carrier to/from/within California and, though each of the five airports we serve in the LA Basin is unique, many of our Southern California Customers use more than just their ‘neighborhood airport’ to access our flexibility and Hospitality. Our schedule is a dynamic reflection of what our Customers need from us and we leverage opportunities to offer the most relevant service in each airport.
As for the new Long Beach-to-Salt Lake City connection, Southwest is poised to go head-to-head with Delta Air Lines, which operates a hub in the Utah capital.
Delta has historically served the route on a four-times-daily basis, and now Southwest will give the Atlanta-based carrier a run for its money.
Of course, Delta can offer a slew of convenient one-stop itineraries to cities worldwide from Salt Lake City, so it’ll be interesting to see how the new Southwest flight fares.
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| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
| 4X | Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year. |
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Why We Chose It
There’s a lot to love about the Amex Gold. It’s a fan favorite thanks to its fantastic bonus-earning rates at restaurants worldwide and at U.S. supermarkets. If you’re hitting the skies soon, you’ll also earn bonus Membership Rewards points on travel. Paired with up to $120 in Uber Cash annually (for U.S. Uber rides or Uber Eats orders, card must be added to Uber app and you can redeem with any Amex card), up to $120 in annual dining statement credits to be used with eligible partners, an up to $84 Dunkin’ credit each year at U.S. Dunkin Donuts and an up to $100 Resy credit annually, there’s no reason that foodies shouldn’t add the Amex Gold to their wallet. These benefits alone are worth more than $400, which offsets the $325 annual fee on the Amex Gold card. Enrollment is required for select benefits. (Partner offer)Pros
- 4 points per dollar spent on dining at restaurants worldwide and U.S. supermarkets (on the first $50,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter and $25,000 in purchases per calendar year; then 1 point per dollar spent thereafter, respectively)
- 3 points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with the airline or with amextravel.com
- Packed with credits foodies will enjoy
- Solid welcome bonus
Cons
- Not as useful for those living outside the U.S.
- Some may have trouble using Uber and other dining credits
- You may be eligible for as high as 100,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 in eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership. Welcome offers vary and you may not be eligible for an offer. Apply to know if you’re approved and find out your exact welcome offer amount – all with no credit score impact. If you’re approved and choose to accept the Card, your score may be impacted.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That’s up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made with restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations. Enrollment is required to receive this benefit.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Terms Apply.