Southwest Airlines plans to lease 36 slots from Continental Airlines at Newark Airport, which would enable the low-cost carrier to fly up to 18 daily roundtrips from Newark.
The lease deal is contingent upon closing of the Continental-United merger by Nov. 30 and other government approvals. The Continental-United merger is under review by the Obama administration.
Southwest aims to begin some Newark flights in March 2011 and have a full schedule in place by June 2011. The slots are spread throughout the day and would allow Southwest to integrate Newark service conveniently into its national route network, said the airline.
The airline has not determined what cities it will serve from Newark.
Southwest for years has served the New York market from MacArthur Airport on Long Island. Last summer, the airline began service from one of the area’s major airports, launching flights from LaGuardia. Southwest serves Baltimore-Washington and Chicago Midway from LaGuardia.
"We've seen tremendous demand for Southwest Airlines in the New York City/Newark area in the past year," said Bob Jordan, Southwest’s executive vice president of strategy and planning.
"Adding Newark provides an excellent complement to our LaGuardia and Long Island service, giving customers one more option for travel to and from the greater New York City/New Jersey area. This service also will provide a needed injection of low fares and competition into the New York/Newark market."
Southwest said it is working with the Federal Aviation Administration, the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, and Continental and United to finalize arrangements for commencing its Newark service in March 2011, including approval of the acquisition of necessary airport gates and facilities.
"The divestiture of slots at Newark by the combined Continental-United will ensure competition is enhanced, and we appreciate the Department of Justice's role in finding a fair solution," Jordan said.