DALLAS (AP) —
Southwest Airlines Co. has joined other low-cost airlines in cutting prices for some seats this fall, after the peak summer travel season.
Southwest said Tuesday it would sell some seats on flights up to 450 miles for $40 each way to mark its 40th anniversary. The airline and its AirTran Airways subsidiary will charge $80 each way on flights up to 1,250 miles and $120 each way on longer flights.
Separately,
JetBlue Airways is dropping its "all-you-can-jet" promotion that allowed pass holders to take unlimited flights for a month in the fall.
JetBlue told past buyers on Monday that it wouldn't run the deal in 2011, but it offered them 30 percent off for one round trip this fall. The passes sold out quickly at $599 in 2009 and $499 to $699 in 2010.
The new Southwest and AirTran sale ends Thursday night and covers travel from Aug. 23 through Nov. 16 from dozens of cities. The deals carry a lot of restrictions, including no travel on Fridays and Sundays and blackout dates around Labor Day. Seats are "limited" and might not be offered on every flight.
AirTran and JetBlue launched sales for fall travel last week. Airlines expect a busy summer with planes nearly full, but demand usually drops off during the fall.
Tom Parsons, CEO of travel website Bestfares.com, said airlines have been cutting prices on some routes to as little as $19 this year. "All of them have had prices under $40 at some point this year, but not on this many cities," he said.
Parsons had predicted an anniversary sale from Southwest, but he said the inclusion of AirTran in the deal made the sale better than he had expected. He said other airlines would be forced to match Southwest prices rather than risk losing customers.
Southwest shares rose 12 cents to close at $11.16, and JetBlue gained 12.5 cents to close at $6.125.
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