Southwest Airlines & DIA Celebrate 10 Years Together
DENVER (CBS4) - Denver International Airport and Southwest Airlines celebrated 10 years of the airline being in service at the airport on Thursday.
DIA CEO Kim Day and Southwest Airlines Chairman, President, and CEO Gary Kelly joined up for the celebration at the airport.
On Jan. 3, 2006, Southwest Airlines began service at DIA with only 13 flights to three U.S. cities -- Las Vegas, Phoenix and Chicago/Midway. Now the airline will operate 198 daily departures to 62 destinations in the U.S. and Mexico by June 2016. It's made Denver the fastest-growing Southwest Airlines airport in the carrier's history.
"We are proud of our continuing strong partnership with Southwest Airlines, which has recommitted itself to the Denver market by adding more flights and more capacity than any other airline in the past year," Day said in a statement. "Today, Denver ranks as the fourth-largest operation for Southwest, which continues to experience steady growth and strength in the competitive Denver market. We wish Southwest Airlines a happy anniversary as we look forward to a bright future together."
"Our ten-year run in the Mile High City is one for the Southwest Airlines record books," Kelly said. "We're proud of what we've been able to achieve here in Denver, and we've done so by remaining true to our core values of low fares, reliability, and great Customer Service."
Additional Information From Denver International Airport
Some notable moments in Southwest Airlines' history in Denver include:
• Oct. 20, 2005 – Southwest announces that it will begin service from DEN in early 2006
• Jan. 3, 2006 – Southwest Airlines launches its inaugural service to Denver with 13 daily departures to Las Vegas, Phoenix and Chicago/Midway
• June 3, 2010 – The annual Denver Chalk Art Festival brings a dozen artists to create chalk art on the ramp adjacent to two Southwest gates at DEN
• November 26, 2010 – The Southwest Rink at Skyline Park opens to the public next to the historic Daniels & Fisher Tower
• Feb. 3, 2012 – Southwest and AirTran announce route authority approval from the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) for AirTran to operate new international flights between Denver International Airport and Cancun International Airport
• Aug. 22, 2012 -- Colorado One, a Boeing 737-700 emblazoned with an artist's rendition of the Colorado state flag, is unveiled at a ceremony at DEN
• Oct. 1, 2012 – Southwest opens its newest Pilot Crew base at DEN, home to 250 pilots and 400 flight attendants
• Dec. 26, 2012 – Southwest announces new international service from DEN to Las Cabos International Airport in Mexico
• Jan. 3, 2016 – Southwest celebrates 10 years of service at DEN
