Southwest cut some Jackson flights, but was passenger traffic the reason?

Southwest Airlines has announced that it will be cutting back on flights to some airports and pulling out of a few others. The reason for this is a disappointing financial start to 2024 and delays in receiving new planes.

Despite the airline's overall entrenchment, it will continue to serve Central Mississippi and Jackson's Medgar Wiley Evers Airport. And while many markets that lost service had declining numbers of passengers, Jackson is one of the few markets where Southwest's performance has steadily increased in recent years.

Beginning in June, Southwest will reduce its daily flights in Jackson to four. However, it is maintaining service to all current markets of Atlanta, Baltimore/Washington, Houston, and Orlando. This adjustment represents a change from their usual five to seven daily flights.

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Southwest passenger traffic in Jackson for calendar year 2023 was 3.7% above their 2022 results, according to Jackson Municipal Airport Authority, but JMAA didn't provide exact numbers for the first quarter.

"For the first quarter of calendar year 2024, their performance is consistent with all the other air carriers in the Jackson marketplace," Airport Director of Communications LSherie Dean said in a statement to the Clarion Ledger. "SWA leadership has shared with leaders at the Jackson Municipal Airport Authority their commitment to the JAN marketplace. The fact that they will remain in the Jackson market during challenging times is quite a positive for our community, in light."

Airlines add and delete flight frequencies throughout the year, demonstrating the natural ebb and flow of the industry, she said.

"We are very proud to have SWA as a valued partner at JAN," Dean said.

Southwest has increased its passenger traffic every year since its return to Jackson in 2021 after a seven-year layoff.

Dean said JMAA did not have the information to compare Jackson with other markets Southwest serves and what the average load service would be for all of the markets.

The airline's departure in 2014 after 17 years of service also dealt a blow to the Jackson airport, as it provided 27% of available seats out of Jackson at the time, according to a Jackson State University study.

What airports is Southwest cutting?

Southwest said it will end service at four airports:

• Bellingham International Airport in Bellingham, Washington.
• Cozumel International Airport in Cozumel, Mexico.
• George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston, Texas. (Southwest will continue to fly to Houston Hobby)
• Syracuse Hancock International Airport in Syracuse, New York.

Why is Southwest Airlines cutting flights and airports?

Bob Jordan, Southwest's CEO, said in the earnings call that the airline posted a net loss of $231 million in the first three months of 2024, despite record operating revenues. A net loss is when a company's expenses are higher than its income.

Southwest also expects to fly fewer planes than it planned because of Boeing's delays in delivering new aircraft. He said the delays present "significant challenges for 2024 and 2025." For instance, he now expects Boeing to deliver about 20 737-8 planes in 2024; the airline previously expected 46 planes.

Ross Reily can be reached by email at rreily@gannett.com or 601-573-2952. You can follow him on Twitter @GreenOkra1.