Cheap discount airfares to Minneapolis with new service in March 2009 from Southwest Airlines!
This is great news for the state of Minnesota with king of discount airfares, for both leisure and business travel, is heading to Minneapolis in March 2009! In the past two years, we have seen ATA (bankrupt) and AirTran Airways, pull out of the Minneapolis to Chicago nonstop market.
Airfares just a few months ago
were as low as $78 roundtrip.
Once AirTran pulled out of this heavy business route, American Airlines, Northwest Airlines and United Airlines, raised their airfares now as high as $400 for the leisure traveler and up to $442 each way for a no advance purchase airfare.
This is probably the first time in many years that I have see Southwest Airlines offer only one nonstop flight out of a new city. Usually, Southwest Airlines will offer at least three or more nonstop flights out of a new city.
Now don't get me wrong, Chicago Midway is a big base for Southwest Airlines. I also expect Southwest Airlines to come in with at least six to 10 nonstop flights a day between Minneapolis and Chicago.
Want even better news? You will probably have one stop service to Minneapolis from 30 U.S. cities.
But the big news is that we expect the leisure traveler to see $98 to $118 roundtrip airfares and business travelers will probably see one-way, walk-up, no advance purchase airfares as low as $149 one-way or $298 roundtrip. That's $100 less than the leisure traveler is paying today. We will also probably see $198 to $258 roundtrip airfares coast to coast.
