Southwest Airlines to jilt Jackson

Southwest Airlines will cease flying out of the Jackson-Medgar Evers International Airport in Mississippi on June 7. Company spokesman Brad Hawkins said passenger numbers were no longer financially feasible and below expectations. SWA’s merger with AirTran, which once catered to second-tier markets, is expecting to move into the nation’s largest airports. Jackson has been a Southwest destination since 1997. It is the only legacy airport SWA is leaving, but the airline will also cease servicing Key West, Fla., and Branson, Mo., both previously served by AirTrain, in June. No other current Southwest destinations are slated for closure. SWA’s 37 Jackson airport workers will be offered jobs elsewhere with SWA. Delta, American [likely to merge next week with U.S. Air] and United remain the only airlines serving Jackson. Source: Mississippi Business Journal business blog, Dec. 6, 2013.