Competition at the largest US airports is ferocious. Large airlines have claimed most of these busy airports as hubs and fine-tuned how to defend their turf from low-cost carriers.
So it was no surprise when Southwest Airlines Co. announced recently that it was pulling back from a couple of large airports, including O’Hare International Airport in Chicago and Washington Dulles International Airport. The Dallas-based carrier — unlike low-cost carriers — can retreat to several strongholds while rolling out significant changes to its quirky culture that will transform it more into a full-service airline.
These strongholds — Dallas Love Field Airport, Chicago Midway ...