Is Southwest clear for a landing at MSP?

With merger talks between Northwest Airlines and Delta drawing out, some Minnesotans fear that Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport (MSP) will lose its hub status. Others are dreaming of booking a cheap flight out of MSP on Southwest Airlines, the low-fare carrier based in Dallas, Texas.

According to a recent article in Finance & Commerce, Minneapolis is one of three major U.S. markets in which Southwest does not operate. Adding to the market’s appeal, about half of the travelers flying through MSP originate from or are destined for the Twin Cities, creating a steady demand for service. Southwest has been so successful at breaking into new markets and increasing air travel in those markets that its model has become known as the Southwest Effect.

Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC) Public Affairs Director Patrick Hogan says that the MAC has never turned down an airline’s request for gates and “meets regularly with key airline officials in an effort to encourage them to begin or expand service at Minneapolis-St. Paul International.

“With 20 Fortune 500 companies, Minnesota offers considerable opportunities for airlines,” Hogan said. “It’s up to the airlines, though, to decide whether new or expanded service to MSP fits their business plan better than service to some other market.”

Hogan said the MAC does not anticipate that a Northwest-Delta merger will significantly impact hub activities at Minneapolis-St. Paul International, but it is prepared to explore all options to ensure that the airline fulfills its commitment to maintain a “sizable” hub in Minnesota.