Analyzing impact of Southwest Airlines on Colorado Springs airport, competitors, passengers

COLORADO SPRINGS -- The arrival of popular Southwest Airlines nearly two years ago has been a big success, but less so for some of its competitors at the city's airport.

According to statistics, Southwest experienced a 130% increase in passengers between March 2021 and March 2022, while the number of passengers for Frontier and Delta airlines decreased nearly 17% -- a trend that has continued through the remainder of this year.

As a result, Frontier ended its service at the airport a month ago, while United Airlines plans to end its daily flight to Los Angeles next month, and American Airlines halted its flights from the airport to Chicago last month.

Frontier officials cited the loss of passengers as a factor in suspending its service to Los Angeles, but hasn't ruled out a possible future return; neither American nor United has indicated a possibility of returning.

Greg Phillips, the airport's director of aviation,, said that Southwest's presence is stabilizing the market and leading the three remaining carriers to reassess if and how they can compete.

"I think that will create more opportunities, not fewer," he said. "I see 2023 as a year of returning to growth. Frontier's, American's and United's announcements are opening the door to other carriers who may not have considered Colorado Springs before."

An example of that, Phillips said, is Minneapolis-based Sun Country Airlines planning to offer two weekly flights to Colorado Springs starting in June.

"Next year, I think we'll see the other carriers offer more flights to more destinations," he said. "And we'll see them increase the percentage of aircraft that are larger rather than smaller."

Passengers who spoke with KRDO NewsChannel 13 said that they're happy to have Southwest in town.

"I did have a little bit of a price decrease going up to Denver," said Nicholas Kolb, of Buena Vista, who was taking a flight to New Jersey. "But ultimately, just thinking about how to get in that city, weave my way through that airport, ultimately navigate inside the airport, instead of just walking right in like I did here, that was a big factor for me. So I do appreciate the convenience, let alone not missing my flight."

Susan Urbanski was traveling to San Francisco and said she uses Southwest often and doesn't worry about the possibility limited options at the Colorado Springs Airport.

"In a free market, if it means other businesses go out, other businesses could compete but they're choosing not to," she said. "I suppose if people want other options, they can still use them. They just won't have as many. I'm happy with Southwest. Bags are free, tickets aren't expensive and Southwest goes everywhere I want to go."

Passengers said that the only drawback to Southwest's popularity in town, is longer waits in line.