Idaho

Bringing the Economy Home

Southwest Airlines Drops Direct Boise To Portland Flight

Karen Bleier / AFP | Getty Images

Southwest Airlines will drop its direct Boise-to-Portland flights this spring.  The Idaho Press-Tribune reports the airline says fuel costs were the deciding factor.

Here’s more from the Idaho Press-Tribune:

“The current fuel environment doesn’t allow us to continue operating that market with nonstop service,” Southwest spokesman Brad Hawkins said over email.

The company studied the data for years before pulling the plug on these flights, he said.

“What we’re seeing across the U.S. is a shift from so-called ‘short haul’ demand to more, longer-haul itineraries,” Hawkins said, noting that Southwest customers can connect to Portland through Oakland, Calif., and Las Vegas. – Idaho Press-Tribune

The director of the Boise Airport didn’t immediately return a call for comment.  This isn’t the first time lately that Southwest has cuts flights from Boise.  Early last year, Southwest discontinued flights from Boise to Seattle, Salt Lake and Reno.  To see StateImpact Idaho‘s full reporting on reduced local flights, click here.

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