Southwest to start 3 nonstops between Norfolk, Atlanta

EDITOR'S NOTE:Norfolk International Airport had two airlines that served the Atlanta market in the late 1980s into early 1991. Due to a source error, an earlier version of this article included incorrect information.

NORFOLK

Southwest Airlines is growing in Norfolk. The low-fare carrier will launch three daily nonstop flights between Norfolk and Atlanta beginning in August.

"We expect this will stimulate the market to what is already our fifth-largest market," said Wayne Shank, Norfolk International Airport's executive director.

Atlanta is already served by Delta.

"Competition means lower fares," he said. "Fares to Atlanta can be pretty hefty."

An Internet fare search for the day after Southwest begins service shows Southwest's round-trip price at $260 and Delta's at $540.

Beginning August 12, Southwest will have three arriving and three departing Atlanta flights at Norfolk. Southwest already operates 12 flights daily - to Baltimore; Chicago; Jacksonville, Orlando and Tampa, Fla.; Nashville, Tenn.

It runs summer seasonal service to Las Vegas.

AirTran Airways, Southwest's wholly owned subsidiary, operates low-cost fares to Atlanta from Newport News/Williamsburg International Airport, but the airline is pulling out of that airport in March.

"Southwest is delivering on the promises of the acquisition, and that's more low fares and more options to connect to more places," Southwest spokesman Brad Hawkins said.