Southwest Airlines lands in South Carolina this weekend! (Greenville: history, news)

[gsupstate]

Looks like Greenville and South Carolina came out on the good end of this......

With the merger of AirTran into Southwest, Southwest has decided to discontinue all service to Asheville and focus the flights for the region out of GSP.

Link:
GSA Business | Greenville, SC | Spartanburg, SC | Anderson, SC

[Skyliner]

The link below has a few interesting articles, including one talking specifically about a noticeable economic impact since the arrival of Southwest Airlines.

South Carolina Economic Developers' Association (SCEDA)

[gsupstate]

Originally Posted by Skyliner

The link below has a few interesting articles, including one talking specifically about a noticeable economic impact since the arrival of Southwest Airlines.

South Carolina Economic Developers' Association (SCEDA)

Great article. Funny that so many naysayers said Southwest wouldn't change things.

[GSP101]

Originally Posted by gsupstate

Great article. Funny that so many naysayers said Southwest wouldn't change things.

Actually, this makes great press quotes but, in the world of corporate relocations, it is not a game changer. How much sense would it make to put a corporate HQ is a city where the education levels would not provide sufficient candidates for the labor pool just because of a trendy airline. You may be able to fly on SWA but, you could not operate a business.

Now if SWA provided more direct flight options, then I would agree it could make a difference. If you don't believe me, look at RDU before and after SWA, they were growing as much before as they were prior. SWA did not change the growth patterns. Additionally, if SWA is such a gamechanger, why is Charlotte one of the fastest growing cities in the country, factually not some internet poll, without SWA. BUt, if it makes you feel good, go for it.

[Greenville]

Originally Posted by GSP101

Actually, this makes great press quotes but, in the world of corporate relocations, it is not a game changer. How much sense would it make to put a corporate HQ is a city where the education levels would not provide sufficient candidates for the labor pool just because of a trendy airline. You may be able to fly on SWA but, you could not operate a business.

You make it sound like Greenville is full of a bunch of drooling mentally challenged people who can't write their own names with their crayons. The corporations who have their headquarters in Greenville obviously feel differently than you do. As I'm sure you are aware, some of these HQ's are homegrown, and others have relocated here. We hear corporate success stories on a regular basis, which wouldn't occur if the metro area was as undereducated as you suggest.

Originally Posted by GSP101

Now if SWA provided more direct flight options, then I would agree it could make a difference. If you don't believe me, look at RDU before and after SWA, they were growing as much before as they were prior. SWA did not change the growth patterns. Additionally, if SWA is such a gamechanger, why is Charlotte one of the fastest growing cities in the country, factually not some internet poll, without SWA. BUt, if it makes you feel good, go for it.

Nobody suggested that a metro area can't grow without Southwest. Rather, the point is that adding a low-cost airline like Southwest gives a growing metro area another feather in its cap to attract more travel - both business and leisure. Businesses grow, and airports see significantly more traffic. This is commonly known as the "Southwest effect," and has happened to some degree virtually every airport where Southwest flies.

And your frequent mention of Charlotte, many times to try to discredit or minimize other cities, is silly. You obviously enjoy living in Charlotte and are proud of it. Good for you. But it doesn't usually have anything to do with the cities being discussed.

[GSP101]

Originally Posted by Greenville

You make it sound like Greenville is full of a bunch of drooling mentally challenged people who can't write their own names with their crayons. The corporations who have their headquarters in Greenville obviously feel differently than you do. As I'm sure you are aware, some of these HQ's are homegrown, and others have relocated here. We hear corporate success stories on a regular basis, which wouldn't occur if the metro area was as undereducated as you suggest.

Nobody suggested that a metro area can't grow without Southwest. Rather, the point is that adding a low-cost airline like Southwest gives a growing metro area another feather in its cap to attract more travel - both business and leisure. Businesses grow, and airports see significantly more traffic. This is commonly known as the "Southwest effect," and has happened to some degree virtually every airport where Southwest flies.

And your frequent mention of Charlotte, many times to try to discredit or minimize other cities, is silly. You obviously enjoy living in Charlotte and are proud of it. Good for you. But it doesn't usually have anything to do with the cities being discussed.

I used education as an example of what is more important to companies than an airline with connecting flights. I agree that it will attract more travelers, have never argued that point. But, to suggest that it is a game changer for econ development is laughable.

Actually, using Charlotte as an example to challenge the claims that SWA is a game changer is very relevant. Charlotte sits on the I85 corridor, like Greenville, but Charlotte does not have SWA or the SWA effect as some like to say. But, Charlotte has seen incredible growth and will outpace most cities well into the future. All of this has been accomplished without SWA which is another example of why SWA is not the game changer in economic development. Besides, the title of this forum speaks to South Carolina, some of metro Charlotte is in SC.

[gvillesc]

Originally Posted by Greenville

You make it sound like Greenville is full of a bunch of drooling mentally challenged people who can't write their own names with their crayons. The corporations who have their headquarters in Greenville obviously feel differently than you do. As I'm sure you are aware, some of these HQ's are homegrown, and others have relocated here. We hear corporate success stories on a regular basis, which wouldn't occur if the metro area was as undereducated as you suggest.



Nobody suggested that a metro area can't grow without Southwest. Rather, the point is that adding a low-cost airline like Southwest gives a growing metro area another feather in its cap to attract more travel - both business and leisure. Businesses grow, and airports see significantly more traffic. This is commonly known as the "Southwest effect," and has happened to some degree virtually every airport where Southwest flies.

And your frequent mention of Charlotte, many times to try to discredit or minimize other cities, is silly. You obviously enjoy living in Charlotte and are proud of it. Good for you. But it doesn't usually have anything to do with the cities being discussed.

+1 Well said.

[Skyliner]

Fact: Southwest Airlines has dramatically affected air travel in the Upstate.

[gsupstate]

Originally Posted by Skyliner

Fact: Southwest Airlines has dramatically affected air travel in the Upstate.

It has also affected air travel in Charleston in a good way, and Columbia in a not so good way.

No doubt about it. Southwest has had a major impact on SC.

[g-man430]

Skyliner is right and here's the proof to back it up: GSP Airport Sets Record - Greenville News Story - WYFF Greenville (http://www.wyff4.com/news/28782573/detail.html - broken link) The numbers don't lie. Way to go GSP Airport. Keep it up.