Southwest Airlines Co. (LUV) said it began offering fares to
international destinations Monday after years of delays as it
struggled to integrate AirTran Airways.
Southwest, which calls itself the largest carrier of domestic
passengers in the U.S., will fly to Aruba, the Bahamas and Jamaica
starting July 1.
The airline planned to add a global reservations system by
Amadeus IT Group SA to allow it to offer international flights this
year, The Wall Street Journal reported Thursday.
Southwest has been struggling to integrate AirTran since the
merger in 2011, and eventually decided to keep flights on the
AirTran network after failing to connect the carriers in its
reservations system. The company plans to convert 11 AirTran planes
to Southwest this year, and about another 60 next year, as well as
eliminate some of AirTran's bag fees and assigned seating.
Southwest said it will complete the launch of its international
airline services across 96 destinations in six countries by the end
of this year.
Southwest has been attempting to launch international flights
for years. Its latest struggle is seeking approval for a $100
million concourse to add 25 international flights a day to
Houston's William P. Hobby Airport. United Continental Holdings
Inc. (UAH), the world's largest airline by traffic, has objected to
the plan.
Southwest shares fell 1.4% to $20.55 in recent trading but were
up 80% in the past 12 months.
Write to Everdeen Mason at everdeen.mason@wsj.com
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