Southwest Airlines Conversation a Process; Could Take Months to Complete

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By: Monte Schisler, News Director
Posted: Tuesday, January 24, 2012

The work is just beginning for the Branson Airport, now that Southwest Airlines has announced it is converting its AirTran service over to the Southwest brand in the coming months.

Southwest purchased AirTran last summer, and as first reported Friday on HometownDailyNews.com, Southwest said it’s making the changes because smaller markets like Branson have long wanted access to the airline’s destinations on direct flights, and have never before had the opportunity.

Branson Airport Executive Director Jeff Bourk was asked, what has to be done first:

Jeff Bourk 2012A159

An official date for Southwest to start flying in and out of Branson hasn’t been announced. Bourk called the transition a process, and it could take months to complete.

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Jeff Bourk’s to-do list is getting longer every day. The executive director at the Branson Airport says he and his staff are re-grouping and figuring out what needs to be done for Southwest Airlines to complete its transition to the local airport.

As first reported on HometownDailynews.com Friday, Southwest announced it will soon fly in and out of the Branson Airport. Southwest purchased AirTran last summer, which is the main carrier for Branson. It was assumed by Airport officials that Southwest would be making the transition at some point, they just didn’t know when:

Bourk says a lot of work needs to be done before Southwest Airlines flies into Branson:

Jeff Bourk 2012A160

Of the 69 cities AirTran served when Southwest acquired it last May, 53 cities are planned to convert to full Southwest Airline service. Those cities include Washington DC, Charlotte North Carolina, Cancun Mexico, Montego Bay Jamaica, Aruba, Bermuda and Nassau Bahamas.

=====(3^rd Version)=====

Jeff Bourk’s to-do list is getting longer every day. The executive director at the Branson Airportsays he and his staff are re-grouping and figuring out what needs to be done for Southwest Airlines to complete its transition to the local airport.

As first reported on HometownDailynews.com Friday, Southwest announced it will soon fly in and out of the Branson Airport. Southwest purchased AirTran last summer.

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