Southwest arrives, now what?

By Jim Fair  

MARCH 17, 2011 9:54 a.m. (0)

See slideshow above for photos of activities surrounding Southwest's arrival

Greenville residents may want to send thank you notes to the folks in Panama City, Fla.

Southwest Airlines president and Chief Executive Officer Gary Kelly said this week the success the airline had there caused company leaders to look more closely at Greenville.

“We’ve been through a recession, which suspended our growth, and it didn’t allow us to take risks.  Fortunately we avoided that in 2009 and in 2010 we showed some good growth,” he said.

Southwest began non-stop service Sunday from Greenville-Spartanburg International Airport to five cities: Baltimore/Washington, Chicago (Midway), Houston (Hobby), Nashville and Orlando.

“There is a strong business climate here and low fares will keep them here,” Kelly said. “The bookings suggest a lot of traffic with just a couple of day’s service. Having seven daily departures is a good start.”

Kelly said Southwest will have its biggest fuel charge this year and reluctantly added the $10 fuel charge to its fares.

“We don’t charge for a lot of gotchas. We change fares very modestly and do the best we can to serve our customers.”

Kelly said the Air Tran merger will give Southwest an additional 30 more markets and service to more than 100 cities.

It was an emotional and euphoric weekend, as GSP became the 70th Southwest Airlines market.

David Edwards, executive director at GSP, and Ben Haskew, president/CEO of the Greenville Chamber of Commerce, provided one of the most poignant moments Saturday. As the Southwest 737, carrying 90 employees and their families, taxied under an archway of water between two fire trucks, Edwards and Haskew wrapped their arms around each other’s shoulders and smiled widely as hundreds cheered and waved.

“It really is surreal. There’s been a lot of effort, sweat and support. I’m so happy today,” Edwards said.

“I’ve not felt like this since BMW was announced,” Haskew said. “This is so magnificent. I feel a lot of pride.”

Two Clemson University graduates separately made a pitch to land the first Southwest plane at GSP. Pilot Bert Godwin (1986 graduate) and First Officer John Lawton (class of 1993). Lawton waved the South Carolina flag outside the cockpit window.

“We both went to Clemson and took our flight training here (GSP),” Lawton said. “We really wanted to fly this plane here. I’ve seen people greet us before, but nothing like this.”

Godwin and Lawton also piloted the first Southwest passenger flight out of GSP Sunday morning for Baltimore/Washington (BWI). All passengers on inaugural flights were given certificates commemorating the occasion.

Among the passengers on the BWI flight were Janie and Rony Dillard, who lived in Flatwoods, land that was purchased to build GSP and later BMW Manufacturing. They were en route to visit their daughter in Arlington, Va.

“We wanted to be on the first flight and Southwest gives us a lot more options,” Mrs. Dillard said. “We’re planning on traveling more if the fares remain low.”

Tim and Holly Klan from Erie, Pa., were making history of their own Sunday morning. The Klans are trying to travel on as many “first” Southwest flights as possible.

“Before our son (Mark, now 2 years old) was born we flew into every Southwest city. We’re trying to hit every first flight from a new destination,” Klan said.

He said Mark has already flown more than 200 times.

“We have a picture of their son celebrating his birthday with a Southwest birthday cake,” Brandy King, a Southwest spokesperson, said.

Southwest threw a party that covered the Upstate throughout the weekend. A plane pull among Upstate chambers of commerce (won by Spartanburg with the aid of Wofford football players) was held Saturday, and employees visited four restaurants with its progressive dinner that ended with an impromptu party at Falls Park.

Employees partnered with TreesGreenville and the Nobel Tree Foundation to plant trees at Corey Burns Park in Taylors and Barnet Park in Spartanburg, respectively. Other employees volunteered at the Ronald McDonald House.

A Crimson Spire oak was planted Sunday at the GSP entrance on Aviation Drive to honor the late Roger Milliken, the only airport commissioner until his death in late December.

“GSP had no better salesman than Mr. Milliken,” Kelly said. “It will be exciting to watch the trees in Greenville and Spartanburg grow with Southwest Airlines.”

Monday morning as Kelly was wrapping up his remarks at GSP, he said, “At Southwest we have a lot of traditions. I understand one of the traditions at Clemson is rubbing Howard’s Rock before running down the hill. Here’s to GSP,” Kelly said as he rubbed the rock (which was brought to GSP) and was cheered by The Tiger, Clemson cheerleaders and invited guests.

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