Southwest Airlines will begin daily, nonstop service to Denver from Bradley International Airport in March, restoring a Connecticut link to the Rockies that Frontier Airlines shut down last year.
It is the first major new service addition at the state's largest airport this year, and part of an effort by Southwest to expand operations in Denver and in the Northeast.
Southwest, one of Bradley's most active carriers, said Thursday that it would add 13 daily flights from Denver in 2010 and six new nonstop destinations, including Hartford.
The Dallas-based airline does not serve Denver out of any New England airport now, but recently announced plans to start flying there from Logan International Airport in Boston in January.
"Our presence in the Northeast is growing," Southwest spokesman Paul Flaningan said. "Within the last few years, other carriers have pulled out their long-haul routes from Hartford. There's a need for it and a demand for it."
Southwest also serves Manchester-Boston Regional Airport in New Hampshire and T.F. Green Airport in Providence.
Frontier filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy last year and was acquired by Republic Airways of Indianapolis.
For Bradley, the restoration of the Denver flight comes after a series of disappointments. Northwest offered a daily nonstop flight to the Netherlands starting in July 2007 and ended it in October 2008.
Northwest later said it would resume its Amsterdam flight, but the airline's new owner, Delta, decided against it. Delta also cut its Bradley- Los Angeles route, citing high fuel costs.
U.S. airlines are expected to lose billions of dollars this year amid weak demand, especially for business travel.
On Oct. 15, Southwest reported a $16 million third quarter net loss, including charges and special items. The airline reported operating income of $22 million, including the special items and $129 million excluding them.
Southwest's chief executive, Gary Kelly, said he thinks airlines may see more tough times.
"I don't believe the worst is behind us if for no other reason than because of higher energy costs, and there's no reason to believe that business travel will return any time soon to help bail us out," he said.
From Bradley, Southwest will operate one flight a day to Denver, departing at 8:10 a.m. on all days except Saturday, when it will leave at 9:05. One-way fares will start at $79.
Bradley has recently announced several other modest service additions, including a seasonal Delta flight to Cancun, Mexico, starting in November, and flights to Fort Lauderdale and Fort Meyers in Florida, starting in November and December, respectively.
Southwest plans additional flights from Bradley to Tampa and Baltimore, routes it already serves.
It is the first major new service addition at the state's largest airport this year, and part of an effort by Southwest to expand operations in Denver and in the Northeast.
Southwest, one of Bradley's most active carriers, said Thursday that it would add 13 daily flights from Denver in 2010 and six new nonstop destinations, including Hartford.
The Dallas-based airline does not serve Denver out of any New England airport now, but recently announced plans to start flying there from Logan International Airport in Boston in January.
"Our presence in the Northeast is growing," Southwest spokesman Paul Flaningan said. "Within the last few years, other carriers have pulled out their long-haul routes from Hartford. There's a need for it and a demand for it."
Southwest also serves Manchester-Boston Regional Airport in New Hampshire and T.F. Green Airport in Providence.
Frontier filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy last year and was acquired by Republic Airways of Indianapolis.
For Bradley, the restoration of the Denver flight comes after a series of disappointments. Northwest offered a daily nonstop flight to the Netherlands starting in July 2007 and ended it in October 2008.
Northwest later said it would resume its Amsterdam flight, but the airline's new owner, Delta, decided against it. Delta also cut its Bradley- Los Angeles route, citing high fuel costs.
U.S. airlines are expected to lose billions of dollars this year amid weak demand, especially for business travel.
On Oct. 15, Southwest reported a $16 million third quarter net loss, including charges and special items. The airline reported operating income of $22 million, including the special items and $129 million excluding them.
Southwest's chief executive, Gary Kelly, said he thinks airlines may see more tough times.
"I don't believe the worst is behind us if for no other reason than because of higher energy costs, and there's no reason to believe that business travel will return any time soon to help bail us out," he said.
From Bradley, Southwest will operate one flight a day to Denver, departing at 8:10 a.m. on all days except Saturday, when it will leave at 9:05. One-way fares will start at $79.
Bradley has recently announced several other modest service additions, including a seasonal Delta flight to Cancun, Mexico, starting in November, and flights to Fort Lauderdale and Fort Meyers in Florida, starting in November and December, respectively.
Southwest plans additional flights from Bradley to Tampa and Baltimore, routes it already serves.
