BRANSON, Mo., December 6, 2013 – On the afternoon of December 5 Southwest Airlines announced that it would cease operations at the Branson Airport (BKG) on June 7, 2014. Bob Jordan, Southwest’s Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer said that the decision was made because the “level of local demand no longer allows Southwest to profitably serve” the Branson Airport and the two other airports where it will cease operation.
The Branson Airport issued a response to Southwest’s decision, containing no internal accountable source for its information except for an unnamed airport “spokesperson.” It expressed surprise and disappointment in the cessation of Southwest’s operations at the airport saying, “We are very disappointed and surprised to hear about Southwest Airlines’ decision to cease service to Branson Airport on June 6th 2014.” In addition, an unnamed “‘airport’ spokesperson stated that staff is confused and disappointed by the airline’s decision to leave the market on June 6th based on many factors not related to Branson’s performance.” The unrelated factors cited by the Branson Airport include “the small station size at Branson, the fact that the Southwest Airline fleet continues to shrink and gate opportunities at large airports created by the merger of US Airways and American Airlines.”
The response indicated that the performance of Southwest’s Branson Airport service “was performing “favorably compared to other markets within their system. It said, “The load factors for the period were slightly above system average at 82%, and fares adjusted for route distance were to be in-line as well.”
As to the airports continued operation the response said, “The Branson Airport will continue to operate after Southwest’s departure in June with Frontier Airlines” and that the airport is “actively working to find additional airlines to enter the market.” It also pointed out that “if there is a silver lining, Southwest leaving the market on June 6th will create opportunities for other airlines to enter the market profitably serving the millions of Branson visitors coming to the area each year.”
Sharon Budnick, the Director of the Branson Travel Agency, a division of the Branson Tourism Center, one of Branson’s largest and most respected vacation planning services, reminds Branson air travelers that Branson is also served by the region’s main airport, the “Springfield – Branson National Airport (SGF),” which has been providing air transportation to Branson travelers for decades. SGF is serviced by Allegiant, American, Delta and United and offers five or more daily flights to each of Dallas, Chicago and Atlanta.
