Southwest Airlines began flying out of Bradley International Airport in Windsor Locks, Connecticut, on October 31st, 1999 and has since grown the operation to a multi-city hub.
Silver jubilee
25 years ago, 
Southwest Airlines
sparked a price war when they began operating out of Bradley International Airport (BDL). It was the first budget carrier to enter the market and outpriced all its competitors. The result was that traditional airlines had to lower their ticket prices to match what Southwest was offering or lose customers.
Photo: dorengo5 | Shutterstock
In a statement to FOX61, CAA Executive Director Kevin A. Dillion, A.A.E said:
“For 25 years, Southwest Airlines has been a great partner at Bradley International Airport, becoming an integral part of our airline network, serving millions of passengers over the years. We appreciate Southwest’s continued commitment to our community and look forward to many more successful years.”
Initially, the airline only operated slights to its hub in Washington. Since then, the operation has grown to span 13 daily departures to eight cities, including Baltimore, Chicago, Denver, Nashville, Orlando, and Tampa. The airline also offers seasonal flights to Fort Lauderdale and Fort Myers.
Photo: Port of Oakland
Vice President of Airport Affairs at Southwest Airlines, Steve Sisneros, had this to say about the anniversary:
“We’re thankful for the Connecticut Airport Authority’s longstanding support of Southwest Airlines, which has enabled us to grow into one of the largest airlines serving the greater Hartford region.”
The airline’s presence at the airport has enabled it to serve more than 1.1 million passengers in 2023 alone. It operates three gates and employs 90 people.
About Southwest Airlines
Southwest Airlines began operations 57 years ago and has since grown to become one of the largest airlines in the US and the world. It is the leading carrier in the US in terms of domestic passenger count. The airline employs more than 66,100 staff and, during peak travel season, operates roughly 4,000 daily flights worldwide.
The airline pioneered the low-cost carrier model, which has since become the standard for many low-cost and ultra-low-cost carriers.
Unfortunately, the airline has been on a downward trajectory since the latter part of last year. In the fourth quarter of 2023, it recorded a loss of $219 million, for a total net loss of $465 million. The following quarter, it lost another $231 million.
Photo: ORF
In June 2024, Elliot Investment Management (Elliot) acquired an 11% stake in the airline. It pushed for management changes, as the current management was unwilling to change the company’s strategy to keep up with new competition and the current market landscape.
The investment firm is attempting to remove eight members of the current board, including Bob Jordan, the chief executive officer and president, and Gary Kelly, the Former CEO and current chairman. The pair have been in charge of the airline during its decline. The move was initiated in September.
Elliot has big plans for the airline and wants to install new management to lead it out of the red and back into the black. However, the airline is currently involved in a proxy war with Elliot, resisting the changes.
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The carrier will certainly have an interesting few months.