I wouldn't call STL's SWA growth "small" unless you want to belittle it. The airline continues to increase service continuously in STL.
SWA is adding 4 additional gates. The new concourse will have 4 new gate areas with an additional 10 gates.
SWA just added 2 new gates less that 6 months ago.
At 700,000 dollars it is cosmetic. Concourse D (now E) is in good shape.
Terminal 2 Concourse E is now completely SWA (except for international arrival gates for all airlines). The expansion of E will increase the footprint of Terminal 2 and E Concourse dramatically. The concourse will include additional food options including a third Starbucks in Concourse E / Terminal 2 alone.
Overall the airport reached 14 million passengers in 2016 and increased at over 10% for the year. The increase projection looks even larger for 2017. St. Louis was in the top 10 of airports in growing seat capacity at 9.1 percent for 2016.
http://www.aviationpros.com/press_relea ... rs-in-2016
Southwest in STL will serve more than 50 nonstop destinations and 110 daily flights from STL by May. This is more nonstop destinations on one airline than all airlines serving MCI currently. Currently MCI serves just 45 nonstop destinations on all airlines. STL serves close to 80 nonstop destinations on all airlines. By May 2017, STL will have 350 daily departures (from article - not sure what is current), Currently MCI has 165.
For comparisons in growth among others in 2016:
Growth% Total 2016 Passengers
INDY: 5.8% 4.24 million
NASHVILLE: 10% 12.5 million
CINCY: 7.1% 6.8 million
PITTSBURGH: 2.2% 8.3 million
KANSAS CITY: 5.4% 11 million
Overall we increased 5.4%, but STL and Nashville are soaring ahead. STL's terminals are completely renovated and new as are all of their concourses (as of May 2017). Nashville projects new airport by mid 2020's. Memphis is building a new concourse. New Orleans is building a new terminal.
I just flew to Orlando and connected through STL (because of time and frequency) and there was another gentleman on the plane with me connecting in STL (about 40 years old) and he was talking with me in STL waiting for our delayed Orlando flight. He admitted that MCI is so dated BUT was adamant about MCI's ease to fly and that the airport needs to renovate not build a new terminal. Well, that seems to be our problem with perception here. But MCI looks and feels awful in its current condition.
Chicago Midway is takin the hit from SWA moving connections through St. Louis in 2016/2017: only 2.1 increase and decrease in seats. "Bob Mann, industry analyst, said Midway's reduction in flights is primarily the result of Southwest Airlines' restructuring its network."
This isn't an argument. This isn't alternative facts. It is what it is. MCI needs to step up and step up quick because we are losing to these airports that are poising themselves for the next decade.
