Southwest Airlines has moved forward with several high-profile changes in recent months, ending its “bags fly free” policy and shifting toward an assigned seating model. Now, the airline is making a significant change at a major airport.
Last month, Southwest Airlines cut several direct flights out of St. Louis Lambert International Airport as part of what appears to be a significant strategy shift for the airline.
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The decision quickly sparked outrage and disappointment amongst customers, Lambert officials, and St. Louis Mayor Cara Spencer. Now, the Lambert chief has addressed the move more directly.
Southwest Ends Six Direct Routes in St. Louis
Southwest confirmed last month that it would be cutting its direct flights from St. Louis Lambert International Airport to Little Rock, Tulsa, Charlotte, Des Moines, Oklahoma City, and Wichita.
In the statement, Southwest said that it was “redesigning east-west connectivity in our network that has traditionally gone through St. Louis to other SWA points of strength (ICT, DSM, TUL to MDW, LIT to BNA, OKC to DAL).”
While the airline is ending six direct flights, perhaps underscoring a strategy shift as it moves away from a rigid point-to-point model, the airline reaffirmed its commitment to providing “unmatched point-to-point service.”
“Through our March 2026 schedule that was released today, we’ll offer up to 110 departures at St. Louis Lambert International Airport, providing unmatched point-to-point service for local Customers and strong north-south connectivity to the vast Southwest network. We are fully committed to the Gateway City and look forward to serving our loyal Customers there for years to come,” Southwest said in its statement.
Lambert Chief Reacts to ‘Frustrating’ Decision
During a recent meeting of the airport commission that helps govern the city-owned airport, St. Louis Lambert International Airport Director Rhonda Hamm-Niebruegge called the decision “frustrating” and opened up a little bit on why those flights were scrapped.
Hamm-Niebruegge explained that airlines typically desire a mix of 50% local and 50% connecting traffic for a flight. On the six flights that were cut, she said that only 20% of the traffic was local.
“Even though those flights were full… the only way to fill them was with 80%” connecting traffic, Hamm-Niebruegge said via St. Louis Business Journal. “Other markets that have either a higher local (metropolitan statistical area) like Chicago or like Denver, or a higher destination base, like Nashville, can fill those planes with more local customers.”
Hamm-Niebruegge also explained that the move comes as Southwest looks to become more of a hub-and-spoke airline, where it previously served as a pure point-to-point airline.
Credit: Mensjournal
