Southwest is coming to Newark

August 28, 2010 — Continental Airlines, Southwest Airlines

Southwest Airlines (Dallas) and Continental Airlines (Houston) confirmed yesterday (August 27) that they entered into a lease providing Southwest Airlines access to 36 Newark Liberty International Airport (EWR) slots which are currently held by Continental.

The lease deal, contingent upon the closing of the Continental and United airlines’ merger by November 30, 2010, and certain governmental approvals, would give Southwest Airlines the right to operate up to 18 daily roundtrip flights at Newark, New Jersey, with some flights beginning in March 2011 and a full schedule in place by June 2011. The slots are spread throughout the day and would allow Southwest the ability to integrate Newarkservice conveniently into its extensive national route network.

Southwest is working with the Federal Aviation Administration, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, and Continental and United Airlines to finalize arrangements for commencing its Newark service inMarch 2011, including the approval of the acquisition of the necessary airport gates and facilities. Details on what cities Southwest will serve from Newark and on what dates that service will begin have not yet been determined.

Advertisement