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The Associated Press
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DALLAS -
Southwest Airlines, which had resisted the kinds of capacity cuts being made by other carriers, will eliminate nearly 200 flights early next year as it struggles with high fuel costs and a weakening economy. The move raised doubts about the company's publicly stated goal of growing modestly in 2009 despite the airline industry's troubles.Now, Southwest will cut 196 flights while adding only six new ones in its schedule that takes effect Jan. 11. That is nearly 6 percent of the airline's daily schedule of about 3,400 flights. Southwest spokesman Chris Mainz said Tuesday that some of the eliminated flights, which span Southwest's nationwide network, could be restored in 2009. Late winter is typically a slow travel period.Last week, officials at Raleigh-Durham International Airport announced that Southwest is cutting flights to Nashville and Las Vegas. The airline also is eliminating flights to Orlando and Chicago from RDU in January. Those flights are expected to resume in March. The carrier hasn't notified RDU officials of any other cuts at this time, airport spokeswoman Mindy Hamlin said Tuesday.
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