On June 28th, Southwest Airlines will begin service out of LaGuardia to destinations including Chicago and Baltimore.  They are able to do this because they purchased 14 of ATA Airlines slots for 7.5 million.  ATA went bankrupt in late March.  Southwest has said that they will be conducting five daily flights to Chicago and three flights to Baltimore.  This requires 16 slots but Southwest managed to get an eighth daily flight in by scheduling its first departure and last arrival outside of slot controlled times.

By flying to BWI and Midway airports, Southwest is increasing its destinations for business people and offering connecting service both of which will turn bigger profits for the company.  Connecting flights open up 45 new markets with these new locations.  BWI opens up connections to Southwest's Jacksonville, Tampa, Orlando and Ft. Lauderdale destinations.  That strategy--starting service out of the airport with just a couple of routes but a lot of connecting opportunities--is the same one Southwest is using for its new service out Minneapolis-St. Paul. Southwest began MSP service to Chicago Midway March 9 and adds service to Denver May 26.