Flyin' High

Southwest Airlines adds international flights in time for summer vacations

Southwest Airlines announced Monday it is expanding service to include three international destinations, starting July 1.

Photo by Dylan Ashe/Wikipedia

Southwest Airlines is now selling seats on new international flights to several Caribbean destinations — Aruba, Bahamas and Jamaica — a first for the Dallas-based carrier. Beginning July 1, Southwest will begin nonstop service from Atlanta to Aruba and Montego Bay; from Baltimore/Washington to Aruba, Nassau and Montego Bay; and from Orlando to Aruba and Montego Bay.

This is the first phase of the company’s international conversion plan with wholly owned subsidiary AirTrain. By the end of the year, the airline will launch Southwest service in the remaining four international destinations in its network.

“Today’s milestone enables us to reach new territory, new customers, and build upon a four decade foundation of doing right by the travelers who trust our value and our people,” said chairman and CEO Gary Kelly in a statement.

In Houston, a new $156 million five-gate international terminal financed by Southwest is currently being built at William P. Hobby Airport. When it is completed in late 2015, the facility will be home to Southwest’s foray into Latin America and the Caribbean from Houston.

Southwest also plans to expand domestic service from Love Field in October, when the Wright Amendment is lifted. No word yet on what international flights may depart from Dallas, as the Boeing 737’s that Southwest operates are limited to flying 3,115 nautical miles without refueling.

Southwest executive vice president and CCO Bob Jordan told the Houston Business Journal the only thing preventing the airline from adding more international flights is how far the Boeing 737’s can fly.

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DART News

DART launches scooter parking pilot program at 4 Dallas rail stations

DART

Scooter parking for DART

In a new pilot program, Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) is making room for scooters: According to a release, four DART stations will now have dedicated parking zones for scooters.

DART will unveil six designated scooter parking zones at four of its highest-traffic stations. Each of the zones will be specifically marked and provide a controlled space for users to park scooters, leaving them clear of walkways, platforms and rail or bus paths, where they can disrupt train and bus service.

The designated scooter parking zones can be found at:

CBD West Transit Center – just east and behind the bus shelter
Victory Station – next to tap and go pay stations along the walkway to the American Airlines Center and next to the southernmost crossing at the rail platform
EBJ/Union Station – on the sidewalk near the north and south entrances to Union Station
SMU/Mockingbird Station – next to bike racks along the walkway from station platform

The pilot program is expected to run a few months beginning in December.

DART will collaborate with the City of Dallas to process the data to scooter rental companies to ensure that the scooters are equipped with geofencing technology allowing the marking of their locations.

With motorized scooters becoming a common mode of "micro transit" for commuters, DART hopes to clear clutter and walking hazards for rail and bus customers, while also provide those who use scooters a quick and reliable way to access or park them.

“Whether people like them or not, scooters have become a popular form of transportation across our service area,” says DART VP of capital design and construction Trey Walker. “We’re acknowledging this fact while attempting to get ahead of scooter clutter at our stations with this pilot program. We want to ensure that our transit stations remain safe, and we continue to maximize efficiency with our train and bus operations.”

Scooter companies, Lime and Bird, are also partnering with DART to incorporate scooter locations near transit stations on the GoPass app, making it easier for riders to find scooters to utilize and complete their journey. DART staff will also monitor the usage of the scooter parking zones and gather public feedback regarding their effectiveness during the pilot.