Southwest to Stop Serving Branson, Key West and Jackson MS

Southwest Airlines is dropping three cities from its network with effect from June 7, 2014.

On June 7, Southwest Airlines will cease operations at Branson Airport (IATA code BKG) in Missouri, Key West International Airport (EYW) in Florida, and Jackson-Medgar Wiley Evers International Airport (JAN) in Mississippi.

Southwest Airlines has the largest fleet of Boeing 737s of any airline in the world and is expected to remain the world’s largest 737 operator for the foreseeable future

Southwest began service to Jackson-Medgar Wiley Evers International Airport in 1997.  The airline added Branson Airport and Key West International Airport to its route network in 2012 as part of its integration with AirTran Airways following its takeover of that airline.

“Unfortunately, the level of local demand no longer allows Southwest to profitably serve these markets,” says Bob Jordan, Southwest Airlines’ executive vice president and chief commercial officer. “Southwest takes pride in becoming not only a great choice for air travel in the cities we serve, but we also become a member of the community. These decisions are never easy.”

Southwest says its employees based at the three airports will have the opportunity to move elsewhere within the airline, after it stops serving them.

According to Southwest, it will operate its full schedule at each of the three  airports over the next six month and there will be no disruption to reservations for travel through June 6, 2014.

A Southwest Airlines Boeing 737-700 pushes back from a gate at Dallas Love Field, where the airline’s headquarters are located

Southwest currently operates three daily round-trips from Branson Airport to four airports: Chicago Midway Airport, Dallas Love Field, Houston Hobby Airport and Orlando International Airport. It employs one person at Branson Airport.

The carrier operates eight round-trips a day from Jackson-Medgar Wiley Evers International Airport to Baltimore/Washington International Airport, Chicago Midway, Houston Hobby and Orlando International. Southwest Airlines employs 31 people at Jackson-Medgar Wiley Evers International Airport.

It operates two round-trips a day from Key West International Airport, to Orlando International Airport and Tampa International Airport. It employs two people at Key West International Airport.