Today Southwest starts service to Atlanta, the busiest airport in the world. Until now, it’s been a huge hole in our network, particularly for business travelers. But starting today, we’re offering nonstop service between Atlanta and Austin, Baltimore, Chicago Midway, Denver, and Houston Hobby, plus same-plane or connecting service to many of our other airports. For now, we will coexist with our subsidiary AirTran, which offers around 200 daily departures to dozens of cities from Atlanta, compared to 15 daily departures for Southwest. Next month, we will add Atlanta service to/from Las Vegas and Phoenix. In June, we’re adding Los Angeles. Over the next couple of years, we will gradually convert all AirTran aircraft and Employees into Southwest aircraft and Employees, so the percentage of SWA-branded flights at Atlanta will grow over time. Here’s a handy fact sheet about the merger.

My Dallas-Fort Worth readers have a same-plane option for four different flights each day between Dallas Love and Atlanta, two each through Austin and Houston. Next month I need to log some time in the cockpit jumpseat to stay current for work, so I plan to head to Atlanta and back with a dinner stop there to check out the airport. I’ve never been to Atlanta and look forward to seeing the king of airport traffic. Someday I want to actually visit the city with Jenny and the boys to see the famous Georgia Aquarium, the Coke museum, and the other highlights of the city. Until then, I’ll just enjoy my layover and maybe meet some of my new AirTran coworkers.

Note: Although I work for Southwest, all thoughts on this website are solely my own and do no necessarily represent those of Southwest Airlines, its Board of Directors and Leaders, or its shareholders.