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Southwest To Cut Several Flights From Baltimore

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Aug 27, 2008 5:54 pm US/Eastern

Southwest To Cut Several Flights From Baltimore

Reporting
Derek Valcourt

Southwest Airlines will eliminate nearly 200 flights early next year as it struggles with high fuel costs and a weakening economy.

The move will impact one of the largest hubs right here in Baltimore.

As Derek Valcourt reports, 14 flights out of BWI Thurgood Marshall are being taken off the rosters.

Frequent flyers tend to hit the skies less in the winter months. That's exactly why Southwest Airlines says they're making seasonal adjustments.

Starting in January through early March, they are cutting back on the number of flights each day out of Baltimore  They are going from eight flights a day to Chicago down to six.  They are also dropping one flight a day to some other U.S. destinations.

"I do a lot of traveling for business and my fear is it's just going to drive up the cost. Seats are going to be at a premium.  It's Cattle Cars 'R Us.  Now there's more people in this little aluminum cylinder and we're sharing the middle seat more," said Charlie Gornowich.

But most customers say they know it's a sign of the times.  High fuel prices and a sluggish economy mean many have had to tighten their purse strings.

"I can understand it. I hope they don't have to cut too many, but I can understand it from a business point of view that if less people are flying they might have to cut some flights," said Marion Peduzzi.

Southwest Airlines say the 14 flights they're going to be dropping are some of their least popular flights to 13 different cities around the country.

A spokesperson for Southwest Airlines says they may reinstate some of the canceled flights if business picks up again after March.

The cuts are nearly six percent of the airline's daily schedule of close to 3,400 flights. The reduction is still far smaller than cutbacks at other U.S. airlines.

(© 2008 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)