Southwest Airlines announced that it will no longer operate out of Bellingham International Airport (BLI) come August 4, citing capacity and financial constraints.
The April 25 announcement states a net loss of $231 million in the first quarter of 2024 with record first-quarter operating revenues of $6.3 billion.
Boeing aircraft delivery delays are also anticipated to impact the company in 2024 and 2025. Southwest had previously planned for a shortage of three aircraft as it retired more planes than it received from Boeing. However, Southwest is now planning for a shortage of 15 aircraft. Southwest will delay retiring fourteen aircraft that it had planned to retire.
Changing travel patterns, higher fuel prices and other cost pressures are also impacting Southwest, Bob Jordan, CEO and president of Southwest Airlines, wrote in the announcement.
In addition to BLI, Southwest will end operations out of the George Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston, Cozumel International Airport in Mexico and Syracuse Hancock International Airport, all of which the company said were “underperforming markets.” Southwest will also reduce capacity at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport and Chicago O’Hare International Airport as part of its restructuring of other markets.
Southwest will also cut costs in other ways, including limiting hiring and offering voluntary time off. The company expects to end 2024 with 2,000 fewer employees than the end of 2023.
Southwest began operating out of BLI in November 2021. Southwest flies directly from Bellingham to Las Vegas, Oakland and Denver.
Alaska Airlines, Allegiant Air and San Juan Airlines also fly out of BLI.
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