SAN DIEGO – Southwest Airlines plans to eliminate nearly 200 flights early next year – including six from San Diego – as it struggles with high fuel costs and a weakening economy.
Southwest currently has 108 daily nonstop departures from San Diego to 18 cities, spokesman Chris Mainz said Tuesday.
As of Jan. 11, San Diego will lose six of those daily nonstop flights: two of 16 to Oakland; one of three to Albuquerque, N.M.; one of two to Baltimore; one of four to Chicago; and one of 13 to Sacramento.
Mainz said that some of the 196 eliminated flights, which span Southwest's nationwide network, could be restored later in 2009. Late winter is typically a slow travel period.
“This is a response to a slower traffic period, and we're giving ourselves some operational flexibility in the winter months,” Mainz said.
The airline will add six flights: round trips between Phoenix and Burbank; Las Vegas and Orange County; and Baltimore and Orlando, Fla.
Southwest is the only major U.S. carrier to earn a profit in the first half of the year – it has not lost money in a quarter since early 1991. Like other carriers, Southwest has been raising fares to offset rising fuel prices.
