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Philly Price Wars: Some Southwest Fares Cost $28 for One-Way Ticket

Aired February 13, 2004 - 06:44   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


CATHERINE CALLAWAY, CNN ANCHOR: Time for a little "Business Buzz." Another price war is in the works. This time it's between Southwest and U.S. Airways.
And Carrie Lee has that story from the Nasdaq in Times Square.

What's the scoop?

CARRIE LEE, CNN FINANCIAL NEWS CORRESPONDENT: Well airline competition, Catherine, heating up in the City of Brotherly Love. Of course that's Philadelphia. Southwest Airlines saying that fares will cost as little as $29 for a one-way ticket when they begin service there on May 9.

Now U.S. Airways, the leading carrier out of Philadelphia, is fighting back, countering Southwest's entry by starting a buy three, get one free promotion for customers who purchase tickets on its Web site.

Going back to Southwest here, the nation's biggest low fare carrier, they originally announced plans to fly from Philadelphia last October. Now the low fare carrier says its cheapest fares from Philadelphia purchased 14 days in advance would range from $29 one way to Providence to $99 one way to Midway Airport in Chicago. Tickets actually went on sale yesterday.

Interesting, because U.S. Airways emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy last year, still trying to restructure their business, to some extent. UAL, parent of United, still operating under bankruptcy protection, and they rolled out Ted, UniTed, get it, the low fare carrier yesterday starting flights from Denver.

So low fare competition still heating up, and if you are traveling out of Philadelphia, some very good deals out there right now.

Catherine, back to you.

CALLAWAY: You have got no excuse for $29, do you? All right.

LEE: It's cheaper than taking a bus or a cab anywhere, almost.

CALLAWAY: It really is. Just about driving with gas prices these days.

LEE: That's right. CALLAWAY: All right, have a good weekend.

LEE: Same to you, Catherine.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com





Way Ticket>


Aired February 13, 2004 - 06:44   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
CATHERINE CALLAWAY, CNN ANCHOR: Time for a little "Business Buzz." Another price war is in the works. This time it's between Southwest and U.S. Airways.
And Carrie Lee has that story from the Nasdaq in Times Square.

What's the scoop?

CARRIE LEE, CNN FINANCIAL NEWS CORRESPONDENT: Well airline competition, Catherine, heating up in the City of Brotherly Love. Of course that's Philadelphia. Southwest Airlines saying that fares will cost as little as $29 for a one-way ticket when they begin service there on May 9.

Now U.S. Airways, the leading carrier out of Philadelphia, is fighting back, countering Southwest's entry by starting a buy three, get one free promotion for customers who purchase tickets on its Web site.

Going back to Southwest here, the nation's biggest low fare carrier, they originally announced plans to fly from Philadelphia last October. Now the low fare carrier says its cheapest fares from Philadelphia purchased 14 days in advance would range from $29 one way to Providence to $99 one way to Midway Airport in Chicago. Tickets actually went on sale yesterday.

Interesting, because U.S. Airways emerged from Chapter 11 bankruptcy last year, still trying to restructure their business, to some extent. UAL, parent of United, still operating under bankruptcy protection, and they rolled out Ted, UniTed, get it, the low fare carrier yesterday starting flights from Denver.

So low fare competition still heating up, and if you are traveling out of Philadelphia, some very good deals out there right now.

Catherine, back to you.

CALLAWAY: You have got no excuse for $29, do you? All right.

LEE: It's cheaper than taking a bus or a cab anywhere, almost.

CALLAWAY: It really is. Just about driving with gas prices these days.

LEE: That's right. CALLAWAY: All right, have a good weekend.

LEE: Same to you, Catherine.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com





Way Ticket>